• India
  • Jan 18

ISRO satellite to secure India’s borders

ISRO will launch a satellite exclusively for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to help it further strengthen India’s frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh among others, according to a ministry statement.

The move is part of recommendations made by a task force on the use of space technology in improving border management, which have been accepted by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

To execute the project, a short, medium and long-term plan has been proposed for implementation in five years in coordination with ISRO and the defence ministry.

“Major recommendations of the report are to build capacity in border guarding forces to use space resources for security, operational planning and border infrastructure development,” the statement said.

In the short term, the immediate needs of border forces will be met by procurement of high-resolution imagery and hiring of bandwidth for communications, it said.

“In the mid term, one satellite is being launched by ISRO for exclusive use of the MHA,” the statement said.

Over the long term, the MHA will develop ground segment and network infrastructure to share satellite resources by user agencies, develop a central archival facility for storing various imagery resources and dissemination of the same to user agencies, it said.

“Deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces in remote areas will be also coordinated by satellite communications. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-based GPS will provide navigation facilities for operational parties in high altitude, remote and difficult borders and Naxal areas,” the ministry said.

The BSF has been designated as lead agency for the implementation of ground segment and network infrastructure, including establishment of archival facility, it said.

India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.

“This project will strengthen island and border security and facilitate development of infrastructure in border/island areas,” it said.

The task force headed by joint secretary (border management), having members from the BSF and space department, consulted all stakeholders, including border guarding forces, ISRO, National Security Council Secretariat and the defence ministry.

Island development, border security, communication and navigation, Geographic Information System and operations planning system, and border infrastructure development are the areas identified for use of space technology, it added.

Notes