**Executive Summary**
This document contains the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1897, posed in Lok Sabha and to be answered on February 11, 2026, regarding the government's plan to leverage space technology to support national initiatives and to build human capital in the space sector, especially in West Bengal. It details how space technology is used to support initiatives like Digital India and agricultural monitoring, and outlines measures to cultivate a skilled workforce.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Space Technology Applications:**
* Operational communication satellites provide television broadcasting, DTH television, telecommunication, VSAT services, radio networking, HITS, DSNG, and societal applications (tele-education, tele-medicine, disaster management) in West Bengal.
* The Department of Fisheries, using ISRO technology, has implemented the VCSS project under PMMSY, providing safety-of-life and disaster alerts to fishermen in coastal states including West Bengal.
* BharatNet Programme provides broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
* ISRO's Bhuvan Geoportal offers online remote sensing data, thematic maps, and geotagging support for rural planning, aligning with Digital India needs.
* Rooftop Photo Voltaic (PV) potential assessment was conducted for 98 smart cities using space inputs, including four cities in West Bengal.
* **Agricultural Monitoring:**
* The Jute Crop Information System monitors crop acreage, condition, and production estimates using geospatial approaches.
* Production forecasts for potato and crop area estimation for groundnuts are done using remote sensing.
* The Bangla Shasya Bima Scheme, a crop insurance mechanism using geospatial approaches, is implemented with private insurance providers.
* **Human Capital Development:**
* ISRO collaborates with academic institutions to promote research and development in space technology, science, and applications.
* Space Technology Cells (STC) have been established in premier institutions like IITs.
* ISRO promotes research through academia programs across West Bengal by setting up:
* Space Technology Cell (STC) in IIT Kharagpur.
* Regional Academic Centre for Space (RAC-S) in NIT Patna (covering West Bengal).
* Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC) in NIT Rourkela (covering West Bengal).
* ISRO/DoS conducts training programs and workshops on remote sensing and geospatial applications for officials from various departments and academia.
* Carbon Exchange studies on Jute crop are conducted in collaboration with ICAR-CRIJAF Barrackpore.
* ISRO Sponsored Research Projects are allotted to Universities/Colleges in West Bengal.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** The Government
* **Impact**: The government will be able to better execute various national initiatives and support building human capital, particularly in the space sector.
* **Action Required**: Continue to leverage space technology for national initiatives and strengthen collaborations with academic institutions.
**Stakeholder:** Citizens of India, particularly in West Bengal
* **Impact**: Improved services through digital initiatives, disaster management, agricultural support, and employment opportunities in the space sector.
* **Action Required**: Utilize the services provided through Digital India, participate in agricultural schemes, and engage in academic/research opportunities.
**Stakeholder:** ISRO and Academic Institutions
* **Impact**: Continued collaborations and opportunities for research and development in space technology.
* **Action Required**: Continue to promote research, participate in training programs, and collaborate on sponsored research projects.
**Stakeholder:** Fishermen in coastal states including West Bengal
* **Impact**: Improved safety-of-life and disaster alerts through the VCSS project under PMMSY.
* **Action Required**: Utilize the alerts and safety measures provided by the VCSS project.
**Stakeholder:** Gram Panchayats
* **Impact**: Improved broadband connectivity and access to digital services through the BharatNet Programme.
* **Action Required**: Utilize the improved connectivity to deliver better services to citizens.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): The primary agency responsible for space research and development mentioned in the context of leveraging space technology for various initiatives.
West Bengal: A key region where the implementation and impact of the space technology initiatives are focused.
Digital India: A flagship national initiative that space technology is being leveraged to support.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A scheme for which ISRO is providing technological support (Vessel Communication and Support System) to provide safety-of-life and disaster alerts to fishermen.
Department of Space: The Government department to which the question and answer is directed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF SPACE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1897
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026
SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT FLAGSHIP NATIONAL
INITIATIVES
1897. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the Government plan to leverage space
technology to support flagship national initiatives such as
Digital India, Smart Cities Mission and agricultural monitoring
especially in West Bengal, and
(b) whether the Government is likely to provide insights into the
measures adopted to build human capital in the space sector
including specialized training, research funding and academic
collaborations to cultivate a skilled workforce especially in
West Bengal and if so, the details thereof?ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC
GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
****
(a) The operational communication satellites are used to provide
applications like television broadcasting, DTH television,
telecommunication, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)
services, radio networking, Headend In The Sky (HITS), Digital
Satellite News Gathering (DSNG), societal applications (like
tele-education, tele-medicine and disaster management) in
West Bengal which support flagship initiatives like Digital India.
The Department of Fisheries with the technology developed by
ISRO using NavIC and communication satellite has rolled out
the Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS) project
under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to
provide safety-of-life and disaster alerts to fishermen. This
project is implemented in coastal states including West Bengal.
BharatNet Programme also aims to provide broadband
connectivity to Gram Panchayats. ISRO’s Bhuvan Geoportal
provides online services of remote sensing data, thematic maps
and geotagging support, facilitating rural planning in line with
Digital India needs.
Roof-top Photo Voltaic (PV) potential assessment was done for
98 smart cities using space inputs, including four cities in West
Bengal.Towards agricultural monitoring, Jute Crop Information System
is developed to address crop acreage, surveillance of crop
condition and production estimate using geospatial approach.
Production forecast for Potato, an important cash crop in West
Bengal and Crop Area Estimation for Groundnuts is done
through remote sensing based methods. Bangla Shasya Bima
Scheme, a crop insurance mechanism involving geospatial
approach is implemented in association with private insurance
provider and technology partner.
(b) Indian Space Research Organisation has collaborated with
academic institutions through various programmes for the
promotion of research and development in the areas of space
technology, space science and space applications. Programmes
such as Space Technology Cells (STC) established in premier
institutions like IIT’s, region wise programmes, which are
leading to advance cutting edge research in the country. These
collaborations are key to build a strong academia-industry
ecosystem, accelerating technology, indigenous development
and strengthening India’s space ecosystem. ISRO has taken
various steps to promote research in space science &
technology through academia programmes across West Bengal
by setting up-
Space Technology Cell (STC) in IIT Kharagpur.
Regional Academic Centre for space (RAC-S) in NIT Patna
where it covers the state of West Bengal.
Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC) in NIT Rourkela
where it covers the state of West Bengal. Training programmes & workshops are carried out by ISRO/
DoS, addressing remote sensing and geospatial
applications for officials from Indian Audit & Accounts
Department (IA&AD), Tea board India, Jute Corporation of
India Ltd. and various academia.
Carbon Exchange studies on Jute crop is done in
collaboration with ICAR-CRIJAF Barrackpore.
In addition to this, ISRO Sponsored Research Projects are
also allotted to Universities/ Colleges in the state of West
Bengal.
****