Parliament Question: Progress of National Geospatial Mission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2368 ANSWERED ON 12/03/2026 PROGRESS OF NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL MISSION 2368# SHRI MAHENDRA BHATT: Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the progress of National Geospatial Mission in the development of high-accuracy digital elevation models; (b) the manner in which the funds allocated for land and urban planning is being utilized; and (c) whether open access to publicly funded geospatial data has been provided and if so, the steps being taken to develop skilled human resources for this purpose? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) to (b): In line with the Budget Announcement, the procedural formalities of National Geospatial Mission proposal appraisal were initiated. In this regard, wider stakeholder consultation with concerned Ministry/ Department has been done at different stage of proposal appraisal as per prescribed guidelines. After incorporation of suggestions received at various stages of appraisal process, the mission document in the form of cabinet note is being finalized. After the approval, the fund earmarked for the mission will be utilized accordingly. (c) As per the Geospatial Guidelines dated 15.02.2021, 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. Accordingly, all the geospatial data generated by Survey of India are easily & openly accessible through the Survey of India’s online map portal https://onlinemaps.surveyofindia.gov.in/. Through the National Institute of Geo-informatics Science and Technology (NIGST), training and capacity-building programmes are being conducted in geodesy, GNSS processing, digital mapping and GIS technologies for Survey of India’s/ Central & State Government officers. Trainings for Survey of India officers and staff are also being conducted in association with premier Indian Institutes like IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Tirupati etc. Active engagement is being undertaken through national and international geospatial platforms, including UN-GGCE and UN-GGIM, to align domestic capabilities with global best practices. *****