As India’s geospatial sector expands, the question is no longer whether geospatial technologies matter, but whether the institutions governing them are prepared for what comes next.
India’s geospatial sector has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. From infrastructure and logistics to agriculture, disaster management and digital governance, geospatial technologies are increasingly becoming part of the country’s growth story. Policies have played a vital role in opening the sector to innovation and encouraging private participation. However, as geospatial technologies assume greater significance for governance, economic development, and national security, I believe the debate is no longer about whether India needs a geospatial law, but rather how such a law should be designed. While policies provide direction, only a statutory framework can offer the permanence, certainty, and accountability required for the sector’s long-term growth.
Regulatory certainty is perhaps the strongest argument for codification. While the National Geospatial Policy 2022 lays down an important vision for the sector, its provisions remain policy commitments rather than legally enforceable obligations. A statutory framework would help ensure greater consistency in implementation across ministries, states and provide clearer mechanisms for departments to publish datasets and report compliance. In cases of non-compliance, provisions for audits, oversight, and dispute resolution would help translate policy objectives into tangible outcomes.
The need for such a framework becomes even more imperative as several Indian states begin to explore geospatial policies tailored to their own developmental priorities. While these initiatives are welcome, their effectiveness would be enhanced by the presence of a national legal framework to which they could align. A central law could provide common principles, standards and institutional mechanisms, ensuring that state-level innovation does not result in fragmentation or regulatory inconsistencies. Much like national legislation forms the basis for sectoral policies in areas such as telecommunications and environmental governance, a geospatial law could serve as the foundation upon which states develop their own context specific frameworks.
Another significant factor to consider is national security. Geospatial information is no longer just a map, it is a strategic asset. Satellite, location-based, and digital mapping have implications in surveillance, espionage, and misinformation. India could have clear regulations around sensitive areas, foreign access to geospatial information and representation of national boundaries with the help of a legal framework. While the Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016, was rightly condemned for its excessive restrictions, it brought forth the need to have governance of geospatial information not solely on the basis of executive instructions.
Codification would also benefit Indian companies. Several Indian companies are pushing the boundaries of mapping, location-based services, satellite analytics and drones. However, they are still required to work in a disjointed and precarious regulatory landscape. Stable legal frameworks have played an important role in the growth of sectors such as telecommunications. Similarly, a specific framework around geospatial may help establish a stable regulatory environment for long-term investment, international cooperation and technological innovation. Standardised datasets and rules would also help reduce expenses and facilitate the expansion of companies.
The protection of privacy is yet another benefit of applying geospatial information. The potential for geospatial data to overlap with personal information is growing. There are many legal concerns regarding location histories, mobility patterns, and spatial analytical tools due to the lack of protection currently offered by law. The lack of clear protections and regulations for these applications increases the likelihood that consumers will be harmed by the misuse of their data. I believe there exists a need for a distinct legal framework to establish standards for responsible data use, enhance public trust in geospatial information, and ensure compliance with evolving international standards.
The most significant advantage if any, may be institutional accountability. Currently, there are several institutions and agencies in India dealing with geospatial aspects such as the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Space, and the Survey of India. A ‘one-stop institution’ in the form of a statutory body, akin to TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) or SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), could be established in the sector. A body of this kind would be able to establish standards, coordinate agencies, resolve disputes, and check compliance. First and foremost, ministries would be held accountable within a shared framework and not just through voluntary coordination.
But there are challenges to codification, as well. Over-regulation is the greatest risk. The experience of 2016 draft bill in India is a cautionary tale. The excessive licensing requirements and the severe penalties raised strong opposition from the industry and civil society. Future legislation should balance national security and innovation. The opposite of overregulation is just as bad because it ultimately could decrease the dynamism very ecosystem the law is trying to foster.
Concerns about administrative capacity also exist. India’s geospatial ecosystem is fragmented, and various agencies have overlapping responsibilities and inconsistent standards. Merely passing legislation will not resolve many of the challenges. New laws without proper institutional reform and expansion of capacity will only create additional bureaucratic hurdles within India’s geospatial ecosystem.
The importance of funding is paramount as well. India’s investments in the geospatial industry are still comparatively lower than the investments made in other countries like the USA and China. A legal framework, however, should be complemented with ongoing financial investments and more explicit institutional accountability. Otherwise, even the best designed legislation can have a limited impact.
Not all countries have an all-inclusive geospatial legislation. In countries such as Australia and Canada, much of the organization takes place at the level of policy frameworks and administrative arrangements. They also have established institutions and administrative capability, however. I think in India, with its size and how it’s governed, the sole use of executive policies will not be enough. Instead a carefully designed legal framework could provide the institutional foundation necessary for the sector to grow in a coordinated and sustained manner.
The question of codification isn’t really one of ‘why don’t existing policies work?’ Indian policies have contributed to the sector’s liberalisation and fostered innovation. However, without laws, the legal certainty, accountability, and institutional stability necessary for a mature geospatial ecosystem will not be achieved.
Technology is certainly the enabler of the geospatial revolution, but institutions are its enablers. The journey towards India becoming a global geospatial leader cannot be complete without a policy. It must be based on legal principles.