**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the inaugural session of GeodCon-26, the first National Conference on Geodesy, held on March 12, 2026. It highlights the significance of the "National Geospatial Policy 2022" in democratizing geospatial data access and liberalizing the sector. The conference emphasized the strategic importance of geodesy for national development and India's growing leadership in the global geospatial ecosystem.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **"National Geospatial Policy 2022"**:
* Marked a landmark reform that democratized access to geospatial data.
* Liberalized the geospatial sector.
* Encouraged innovation and private participation.
* **Importance of Geodesy**:
* Forms the scientific backbone of the geospatial ecosystem.
* Enables accurate positioning, satellite navigation, infrastructure planning, climate monitoring, and disaster response.
* Is an essential scientific foundation for development, analogous to mapping.
* A technologically advanced nation must maintain sovereign capability over its geodetic reference frames, gravity models, and positioning systems.
* **India's Geospatial Capabilities**:
* Initiatives like NavIC, space missions, and Earth observation programs reflect India's expanding role in the global geospatial ecosystem.
* The success and accuracy of these systems are linked to strong geodetic infrastructure and reference frameworks.
* Collaboration among government institutions, academia, industry, and young researchers is crucial for strengthening geospatial capabilities.
* **Strengthening Geospatial Infrastructure and Research**:
* The Department of Science and Technology and the Survey of India are actively strengthening the country's geospatial infrastructure and promoting scientific research in geodesy.
* The establishment of the National Centre for Geodesy at IIT Kanpur, along with six Regional Centres, represents an integrated national effort to strengthen geodetic science, research, and capacity building.
* Research areas include GNSS-based reference frame development, crustal deformation monitoring, space geodesy techniques, and GeoAI-based applications.
* Capacity building and development of skilled manpower are essential for a strong and self-reliant geospatial ecosystem.
* **GeodCon-26 Conference**:
* Brings together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, academic institutions, and young researchers.
* Focuses on advancements in geodesy and its applications in national development, scientific research, and strategic sectors.
* Provides an opportunity for dialogue, networking, and collaboration among stakeholders.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Government Institutions (e.g., DST, Survey of India, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space)**
* **Impact**: These institutions are instrumental in implementing and benefiting from the geospatial policy and advancements in geodesy. They are responsible for strengthening infrastructure, promoting research, and leveraging geospatial data for governance, national security, and economic growth.
* **Action Required**: Continue efforts in strengthening geospatial infrastructure, promoting scientific research in geodesy, and facilitating collaboration among stakeholders.
* **Academia and Young Researchers**:
* **Impact**: Will benefit from increased opportunities for research, collaboration, and capacity building in geodesy and geospatial science. The establishment of new centers and the focus on skilled manpower development will create avenues for their contribution.
* **Action Required**: Actively participate in research initiatives, collaborate with institutions, and engage in training programs to build expertise in geodesy and geospatial applications.
* **Industry Leaders**:
* **Impact**: Will benefit from a liberalized geospatial sector, democratized data access, and a focus on innovation, leading to new business opportunities and technological advancements.
* **Action Required**: Engage in innovation and private participation within the geospatial sector, leverage democratized data access, and collaborate with research institutions.
* **Policymakers**:
* **Impact**: Will be involved in shaping and implementing policies related to the geospatial sector, leveraging advancements in geodesy for national development and strategic planning.
* **Action Required**: Deliberate on advancements in geodesy and its applications to inform policy decisions for national development and strategic sectors.
* **General Public and Economy**:
* **Impact**: Will benefit from improved governance, infrastructure development, disaster resilience, and economic growth driven by advancements in the geospatial domain and geodesy.
* **Action Required**: The document does not explicitly state actions for the general public, but implies benefits from improved national capabilities.
Key Entities Referenced
National Geospatial Policy 2022: A landmark reform aimed at democratizing access to geospatial data and liberalizing the sector.
Dr Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, who addressed the conference and highlighted the policy's significance.
GeodCon-26: The first National Conference on Geodesy, where the policy and advancements in geospatial science were discussed.
Department of Science and Technology: A key government department involved in strengthening India's geospatial infrastructure and research.
Survey of India: An organization involved in strengthening India's geospatial infrastructure and promoting scientific research in geodesy.
Ministry of Science & Technology
"National Geospatial Policy 2022" marked a
landmark reform that democratized access to
geospatial data, liberalised the sector: Dr
Jitendra Singh
GeodCon-26 Highlights India’s Growing Leadership in
Geospatial Science; Dr Jitendra Singh Stresses Strategic
Importance of Geodesy
NavIC, Space Missions and Earth Observation Programmes
Reflect India’s Expanding Role in Global Geospatial
Ecosystem, says Union Minister
DST and Survey of India Strengthening India’s Geospatial
Infrastructure and Geodesy Research: Dr Jitendra Singh
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 7:45PM by PIB Delhi
India is moving decisively toward scientific self-reliance under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and in
this transformative decade foundational sciences such as geodesy must emerge as strategic national
strengths, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth
Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra
Singh, adding that "National Geospatial Policy 2022" marked a landmark reform that democratized access
to geospatial data and liberalised the sector.
The Minister was addressing the inaugural session of GeodCon-26, the first National Conference on
Geodesy, at INSA, New Delhi.
Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that the geospatial sector today plays a pivotal role across governance,
infrastructure development, national security, disaster resilience and economic growth. He said that
geodesy forms the scientific backbone of this expanding geospatial ecosystem, enabling accurate
positioning, satellite navigation, infrastructure planning, climate monitoring and disaster response.
Union Minister noted that the National Geospatial Policy 2022 marked a landmark reform that liberalised
the sector, democratized access to geospatial data and encouraged innovation and private participation. He
said that the geospatial domain is increasingly becoming an enabling layer for multiple sectors of the
economy, strengthening governance as well as national development.
Highlighting the scientific significance of geodesy, the Minister said that while mapping represents the
visible layer of development, geodesy remains the invisible but essential scientific foundation that makes
it possible. He emphasised that a technologically advanced nation must maintain sovereign capability overits geodetic reference frames, gravity models and positioning systems.
Referring to India’s growing technological capabilities, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that initiatives such as the
indigenous navigation system NavIC, space missions and Earth observation programmes reflect the
country’s expanding role in the global geospatial ecosystem. He noted that the success and accuracy of
such systems are closely linked with strong geodetic infrastructure and reference frameworks.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, academia,
industry and young researchers to strengthen India’s geospatial capabilities. He said platforms such as
GeodCon-26 provide an important opportunity for dialogue, networking and collaboration among
stakeholders working in the field.
Union Minister further appreciated the ongoing efforts of the Department of Science and Technology and
the Survey of India in strengthening the country’s geospatial infrastructure and promoting scientific
research in geodesy. He also welcomed the large participation of young scholars and researchers, noting
that capacity building and development of skilled manpower will be essential for building a strong and
self-reliant geospatial ecosystem in the country.
Padma Shri Dr. V. P. Dimri, Patron of GeodCon-26, said that geodesy has long remained a foundational
science that is essential yet often unnoticed, and it is encouraging to see it now receiving focused scientific
attention through a national conference dedicated to the field. He highlighted the importance of sustained
scientific investment and welcomed the establishment of the National Centre for Geodesy at IIT Kanpur
along with six Regional Centres, noting that the initiative represents an integrated national effort to
strengthen geodetic science, research and capacity building in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr.M.Mohanty, Head of the NGP Division at the Department of Science and
Technology, highlighted the growing importance of geodesy in the context of the upcoming geospatial
mission and national geospatial infrastructure. He said the National Centre for Geodesy has enabled
research in areas such as GNSS-based reference frame development, crustal deformation monitoring,
space geodesy techniques and GeoAI-based applications, while also supporting training programmes and
advanced geospatial data processing capabilities.
GeodCon-26 brings together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, academic institutions and young
researchers to deliberate on advancements in geodesy and its applications in national development,
scientific research and strategic sectors.
The inaugural session also featured addresses by Dr. Onkar Dikshit, Chairperson, GeodCon-26, and Shri
Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, Surveyor General of IndiaPHOTO: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing the inaugural session of GeodCon-26, the
first National Conference on Geodesy, at INSA, New Delhi on Thursday.
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