Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Science and Technology addressed the availability of contour plans and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for public use, particularly in landslide-vulnerable regions. DEMs and contours from Survey of India (SoI) are currently available online. The National Geospatial Mission (NGM) envisages generating high-resolution Orthoimagery (ORI) and high-accuracy DEM for the entire country.
Key Points / Main Content:
Availability of Geospatial Data:
* DEMs and contours from SoI's topographical datasets are available on https:onlinemaps.surveyofindia.gov.in.
* The National Geospatial Mission (NGM) aims to generate high-resolution Orthoimagery (ORI) and high-accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the entire country.
Geospatial Data Guidelines and Policy:
* The Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps, 2021, mandates easy access to all Geospatial Data produced using public funds (excluding classified data) to all Indian Entities for scientific, economic, and developmental purposes without restrictions on use.
* Government agencies receive free access, while others are subject to fair and transparent pricing.
* The National Geospatial Policy, 2022, promotes an integrative interface for all digital data with location dimensions collected or developed using public funds for easy access, sharing, use, and reuse.
* Topographic and other Geospatial Data produced by SoI using public funds is treated as a common good and easily available.
Accessibility of Data for Specific Zones:
* DEM/contour data of ecologically sensitive areas and disaster-prone zones (e.g., Coastal Areas and River basins) generated by SoI under National Projects are accessible to all Indian entities.
Impact Analysis:
Government Agencies:
* Impact: Free access to geospatial data produced using public funds.
* Action Required: Utilize available geospatial data for planning, monitoring, and developmental purposes.
Indian Entities (Scientific, Economic, Developmental):
* Impact: Easy access to geospatial data produced using public funds (excluding classified data) for scientific, economic, and developmental purposes.
* Action Required: Utilize available geospatial data for relevant applications, subject to fair and transparent pricing where applicable.
Citizens and Local Bodies (Especially in Ecologically Sensitive and Disaster-Prone Zones):
* Impact: Access to DEM/contour data for research, planning, and monitoring.
* Action Required: Utilize available geospatial data for participatory planning and monitoring of environmental violations, disaster management, and local development initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Western Ghats: A major mountain range in India, identified as a landslide-vulnerable region.
Gati Shakti: A Government of India initiative related to infrastructure development and planning.
Survey of India (SoI): The national mapping agency of India, responsible for generating topographical datasets and geospatial data.
National Geospatial Mission (NGM): A Government of India mission focused on generating high-resolution orthoimagery and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for the entire country.
Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps, 2021: A set of guidelines by the Government of India regarding the accessibility and use of geospatial data produced using public funds.
National Geospatial Policy, 2022: A policy by the Government of India focused on establishing an integrative interface for all digital data having location dimension.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM): A digital representation of ground surface topography or terrain.
SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES: Member of LOK SABHA who asked question
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1792
ANSWERED ON 30/07/2025
AVAILABILITY OF CONTOUR PLANS FOR PUBLIC USE
1792. SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to make the contour plans
and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of the country publicly
accessible, especially for landslide-vulnerable regions such as the
Western Ghats to facilitate participatory planning and monitoring of
environmental violations;
(b) if so, the details thereof, including the platforms on which such
data will be made available and the resolution of data proposed to be
released;
(c) whether the Gati Shakti initiative or similar policy mandates
release of contour plans and DEMs for public use, if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons for restricting access to such data;
(d) whether the Government proposes to consider making these
data sets available for Disaster Management, if so, the details
thereof; and
(e) the details of the steps taken by the Government to ensure that
high-resolution DEMs and contour data are accessible for
research/planning/monitoring by citizens/local bodies, particularly in
ecologically sensitive and disaster-prone zones?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) to (b): Currently the DEM generated from the topographical
datasets of Survey of India (SoI) and the contours in the Open Series
Maps (OSM) are available on https://onlinemaps.surveyofindia.gov.in.
Further, the Government of India has recently announced the
Page 1 of 2National Geospatial Mission (NGM) under which the generation of
high-resolution Ortho-imagery (ORI) & high accuracy Digital Elevation
Model (DEM) for the entire country has been envisaged. These can be
used for the different application in various sectors including
facilitation of participatory planning and monitoring of
environmental violations in Landslide-Vulnerable regions such as the
Western Ghats.
(c) to (e): Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geospatial Data
and Geospatial Data Services including Maps, 2021 provides that all
Geospatial Data produced using public funds, except the classified
geospatial data collected by security/law enforcement agencies,
shall be made easily accessible for scientific, economic and
developmental purposes to all Indian Entities and without any
restrictions on their use. Such access shall be given free of any
charges to Government agencies and at fair and transparent pricing
to others. National Geospatial Policy, 2022 further provides for
establishing and strengthening an integrative interface for all digital
data having location dimension collected or developed utilizing
public funds, for easy access, sharing, use and reuse. Also, the
topographic data and other Geospatial Data produced by Survey of
India using public funds is treated as common good and easily
available. Accordingly, the DEM/contour data of ecologically
sensitive areas and disaster-prone zones (like Coastal Areas and
River basins), that have been generated by SoI under various National
Projects, are accessible to all Indian entities.
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