Executive Summary:
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions and in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1614 regarding the enhancement of space applications in the North Eastern region, and the government's plan to ensure adequate funding and support for NESAC's projects. The answer details initiatives discussed during the 12th meeting of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) held on December 21, 2024. It also outlines space-based education and research opportunities for the youth in the North Eastern States.
Key Points / Main Content:
Initiatives Discussed at the 12th NESAC Meeting:
* ISRODOS will facilitate visits for 800 science students from the North Eastern (NE) states to ISRO Centres. 200 students visited in April and June 2025; 100 in July 2025; and the remaining 500 are scheduled to visit between August and December 2025.
* NESAC Society will promote space application utilization by at least 25 departments in each of the 8 NE states.
* More space application projects in natural resource management areas, like Agriculture, Forestry, Water Resources, Geology, and Urban development, will be undertaken.
Space-Based Education and Research Opportunities:
* NESAC offers internship and student project trainee opportunities for NE youth. Annually, over 15 students participate in these programs.
* NESAC conducts regular training courses on remote sensing, UAV remote sensing, geospatial technology use in various fields and satellite communication.
* Over 300 participants from NE state/central government departments, State Disaster Management Authority, CAPFIB, Assam Survey Settlement Training Centre, and academic institutions attend NESAC’s training courses annually.
Funding and Support for NESAC Projects:
* NESAC receives funding from DoS, NEC, MDoNER, and State Governments based on project requirements.
Impact Analysis:
ISRODOS, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), and Respective State Governments:
Impact: These entities are crucial for facilitating student visits to ISRO centers.
Action Required: Coordinate to ensure the successful execution of the student visit program, including logistical and financial support.
NESAC Society:
Impact: Responsible for promoting the utilization of space applications across NE state departments.
Action Required: Take initiatives to engage at least 25 departments in each state to utilize space applications.
Youth of North Eastern (NE) States:
Impact: Beneficiaries of enhanced space education and research opportunities.
Action Required: Participate in internship programs, student projects, and training courses offered by NESAC.
State/Central Government Departments, State Disaster Management Authority, CAPFIB, Assam Survey Settlement Training Centre, and Academic Institutions in the NE Region:
Impact: Benefit from regular and tailored training courses on space technology applications.
Action Required: Participate in training courses offered by NESAC to enhance their knowledge and skills.
DoS, NEC, MDoNER and State Governments
Impact: Providing funds for executing projects.
Action Required: Continue to provide funds as per requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC): An organization focused on enhancing space applications in the North Eastern region of India.
ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation, which will facilitate visits for students from North Eastern states to its centers.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER): A government ministry supporting the ISRODOS initiative and NESAC projects.
Agartala, Tripura: Location of the 12th Meeting of North Eastern Space Applications Centre NESAC Society.
North Eastern (NE) States: Refers to the eight states in the North Eastern region of India, which are the focus of the initiatives.
ISRODOS: An initiative to facilitate visits of students from North Eastern states to ISRO centers.
Union Home Minister: The chairman of the 12th Meeting of North Eastern Space Applications Centre NESAC Society.
DoS: Department of Space, a source of funding for NESAC projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF SPACE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1614
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025
NESAC
1614. SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) whether there are any specific initiatives discussed during the
12th meeting of the North Eastern Space Applications Centre
(NESAC) for the enhancement of space applications in the
region;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there are any focus on expanding space-based
education and research opportunities for the youth in the
North Eastern States;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the manner in which the Government plan to ensure adequate
funding and support for NESAC’s projects?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC
GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
****(a) & (b)
During the 12th Meeting of North Eastern Space Applications
Centre (NESAC) Society, held on 21st December, 2024 at
Agartala, under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Home
Minister, following initiatives were discussed for enhancement
of space applications in the region other than specific
application projects:
i. ISRO/DOS would facilitate the visit of 800 young and
talented science stream students (100 from each North
Eastern (NE) State) to ISRO Centres with the support of
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
(MDoNER) and respective state governments.
As part of this, 200 students from all NE states visited
ISRO facilities in two batches and interacted with
Scientists in Bengaluru during April and June 2025. 100
students’ visit is scheduled in July 2025 and remaining
500 students will be visiting during August – December,
2025.
ii. NESAC Society would take necessary initiatives
towards utilization of space applications by at least 25
departments from each of the 8 States.
iii. More space application projects would be taken up in
natural resource management areas like Agriculture,
Forestry, Water Resources, Geology, and Urban
development sector.
(c) & (d)NESAC is offering (i) Internship and (ii) Student Project
Trainee opportunity for the youth of NE States to enhance
knowledge in space-based research. Annually more than 15
students from different parts of the North East Region are
carrying out internship and project training as part of their
B.Tech. / M.Tech./ MSc program.
A number of regular training courses are being organized on
a continuous basis by NESAC on Basics of Remote Sensing,
UAV Remote Sensing and the use of geospatial technology
on Agriculture, Forestry, Geosciences, GeoWeb
applications, Space and Atmospheric sciences and Satellite
communication etc., benefiting the students, researchers
and professionals in the region.
Every year more than 300 participants from State/ Central
government departments representing NE region, State
Disaster Management Authority, CAPF/IB, Assam Survey &
Settlement Training Centre and various academic
institutions participate in the regular and tailor-made space
technology/ application training courses conducted at
NESAC.
(e) NESAC is receiving fund for executing projects mainly from
DoS, NEC (MDoNER) and State Governments as per
requirements.
****