**Executive Summary**
This document outlines how space technology is being used to support flagship national initiatives, particularly in West Bengal. It details applications ranging from broadcasting and telecommunications to disaster management and agricultural monitoring. The information was provided by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister's Office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on February 11, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Applications of Space Technology:**
* Operational communication satellites support television broadcasting, DTH, telecommunication, VSAT, radio networking, HITS, DSNG, and societal applications (tele-education, tele-medicine, disaster management).
* Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS) project under PMMSY uses ISRO technology to provide safety-of-life and disaster alerts to fishermen in coastal states, including West Bengal.
* BharatNet Programme aims to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
* ISRO's Bhuvan Geoportal provides online services of remote sensing data, thematic maps, and geotagging support for rural planning.
* Rooftop Photo Voltaic (PV) potential assessment was done for 98 smart cities, using space inputs, including four cities in West Bengal.
* **Agricultural Monitoring:**
* Jute Crop Information System addresses crop acreage, condition, and production estimate using a geospatial approach.
* Production forecast for Potato and Crop Area Estimation for Groundnuts is done through remote sensing.
* Bangla Shasya Bima Scheme, a crop insurance mechanism, uses a geospatial approach with a private insurance provider and technology partner.
* **Collaboration with Academic Institutions:**
* Space Technology Cells (STC) are established in institutions like IITs.
* Regional Academic Centre for Space (RAC-S) is in NIT Patna, covering West Bengal.
* Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC) is in NIT Rourkela, covering West Bengal.
* Training programs & workshops on remote sensing and geospatial applications are conducted by ISRO/DoS for officials from IA&AD, Tea board India, Jute Corporation of India Ltd., and academia.
* Carbon Exchange studies on Jute crop is done in collaboration with ICAR-CRIJAF Barrackpore.
* ISRO Sponsored Research Projects are also allotted to Universities/ Colleges in the state of West Bengal.
**Impact Analysis**
**Fishermen**
* **Impact:** Increased safety-of-life and access to disaster alerts through the VCSS project.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the information and support provided by the VCSS system for safer fishing practices.
**Rural Communities/Gram Panchayats**
* **Impact:** Improved broadband connectivity through the BharatNet Programme and enhanced rural planning through access to ISRO's Bhuvan Geoportal.
* **Action Required:** Leverage the broadband connectivity for various services and utilize the Geoportal for informed planning decisions.
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Improved agricultural monitoring and crop insurance through systems like the Jute Crop Information System and Bangla Shasya Bima Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the available crop information and insurance mechanisms for better crop management and risk mitigation.
**Academic Institutions (IITs, NITs, Universities/Colleges)**
* **Impact:** Opportunities for research and development in space technology and increased collaboration with ISRO.
* **Action Required:** Engage with ISRO through established cells (STC, RAC-S, STIC) and research projects to advance space technology.
**Government Officials (IA&AD, Tea board India, Jute Corporation of India Ltd.)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced skills and knowledge in remote sensing and geospatial applications.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs and workshops conducted by ISRO/DoS to improve the application of geospatial technologies in their respective fields.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Collaborates with academic institutions to promote research and development in space technology and science.
Department of Space: Government department overseeing space activities.
Digital India: Flagship initiative supported by space technology applications like tele-education and tele-medicine.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Scheme supported by ISRO's NavIC technology for safety-of-life and disaster alerts to fishermen.
West Bengal: Indian state where various space technology initiatives are being implemented.
Department of Space
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPACE TECHNOLOGY
TO SUPPORT FLAGSHIP NATIONAL INITIATIVES
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 12:50PM by PIB Delhi
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.
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.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and
Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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