Parliament Question: NavIC Satellite System

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5356 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2026 NAVIC SATELLITE SYSTEM

5356. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) the present status of the NavIC satellite constellation including the number of satellites launched and currently operational;

(b) the coverage range and service capabilities of NavIC for civilian navigation, aviation safety, maritime operations and disaster management;

(c) the steps taken to integrate NavIC with national air traffic management and other critical infrastructure systems;

(d) whether in light of past strategic assessments such as by the Kargil War Review Committee emphasising the need for indigenous navigation and surveillance capabilities, NavIC and associated satellite systems have been operationalised for defence-related applications such as secure navigation and real-time situational awareness and if so, the details thereof;

and(e) the roadmap for further strengthening India’s autonomous satellite navigation architecture to enhance strategic preparedness and technological self-reliance? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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(a) Total number of NavIC satellites launched are eleven; out of these eight satellites are functional. Three satellites are broadcasting navigation signals and five satellites are capable of broadcasting signals for one-way messaging.

(b) & (c) NavIC constellation is designed to provide Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services over India and a region extending up to 1500km from Indian land mass for various applications such as civilian navigation, maritime operations and disaster management. Discussions are ongoing with Airport Authority of India/Ministry of Civil Aviation on adoption of NavIC in air traffic management. It is to kindly note that India’s space-based augmentation system GAGAN is operational and providing services for air navigation. Department of Space (DoS) is constantly engaged in efforts to broaden the use of NavIC in various critical infrastructures such as real-time train tracking, fishing vessel communication and support system, location system on public & commercial vehicles for passenger safety, and IST dissemination.(d) & (e) DoS is actively working for operationalisation of NavIC and associated satellite systems for providing secure navigation service. The roadmap for further strengthening satellite navigation architecture includes completion of NavIC base layer constellation and suitable enhancement in services to meet the user requirements, and induction of indigenous technologies including space-grade atomic clock for technological self-reliance ****