Union Minister Jitendra Singh said 3D maps will be prepared for 100 Indian cities using geospatial technology.

Under the SVAMITVA scheme, geospatial technology along with drones will survey over 6 lakh Indian villages. 

The minister said that the trinity of geospatial systems, drone policy and unlocked space sector will be the hallmark of India’s future economic progress.

The Centre will soon announce a Geospatial Policy, he said at a function to commemorate the first anniversary of the release of geospatial data.

Growth of Indian geospatial market

• Geospatial technology makes use of satellite navigation systems and computer databases to create, capture, store and retrieve geographic and spatial information of any place. It enables efficient, effective, relevant and integrated planning through the use of real time data and data analytics. 

• The Centre will focus on strengthening the startup ecosystem which has the potential to create jobs to tap the Rs 36,000 crore domestic geospatial market.

• The focus will be on strengthening the innovative startup ecosystem with huge financial implications and job generation.

• The size of the Indian geospatial market in 2020, according to an industry estimate, was Rs 23,345 crore, including Rs 10,595 crore of export which is likely to grow to Rs 36,300 crore in 2025.

• Open and easy access to geospatial information has helped in maximising the use and reuse of data within a year of its launch. 

What is SVAMITVA scheme?

• The Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme was launched by PM Modi on April 24, 2020, as a central scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India.

• It aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.

• The scheme has the potential to transform rural India using modern technical tools of mapping and surveying. 

• The scheme will cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the entire country between 2021 and 2025.

• The ministry of panchayati raj (MoPR) is the nodal ministry for implementation of the scheme. 

• In states, the revenue department/land records department will be the nodal department and shall carry out the scheme with support of state panchayati raj department. 

• Survey of India shall work as the technology partner for implementation.

• The scheme aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India. 

• The demarcation of rural abadi (inhabited) areas would be done using drone surveying technology. 

• This would provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages which, in turn, would enable them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits from banks.

SVAMITVA scheme seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Bring financial stability to the citizens in rural India by enabling them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits.

• Creation of accurate land records for rural planning.

• Determination of property tax, which would accrue to the Gram Panchayats directly in states where it is devolved or else, add to the state exchequer.

• Creation of survey infrastructure and geographic information system (GIS)  maps that can be leveraged by any department for their use.

• To support preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by making use of GIS maps.

• Reduce property related disputes and legal cases.

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