Daily News Analysis

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) / NavIC

stylish_lining

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is set to launch three more navigation satellites for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NavIC. These launches are planned to take place by 2026.

About IRNSS / NavIC

What is IRNSS?
IRNSS, or Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, is an autonomous satellite navigation system developed by ISRO to provide accurate position information services to users in India and surrounding areas. It is also called NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).

Development and Purpose:

  • NavIC was developed by ISRO to serve the Indian subcontinent and the region up to 1500 km from India’s borders.

  • The system ensures independent navigation capabilities for India, reducing reliance on other international systems like GPS.

NavIC System Configuration

The NavIC system is made up of a combination of satellites placed in different orbits:

  • Seven Satellites in Total:

    • Three satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GSO): These satellites maintain a fixed position relative to the Earth, ensuring continuous coverage over India.

    • Four satellites in Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO): These provide additional coverage, ensuring the system’s availability across the region.

  • Ground Stations:

    • NavIC operates through a network of ground stations that monitor and control the satellites in real time.

Types of Services Provided by IRNSS/NavIC

  1. Standard Positioning Service (SPS):

    • This service is available to all users, providing civilian use of navigation data for positioning and timing.

  2. Restricted Service (RS):

    • This encrypted service is provided exclusively to authorized users (such as military or government bodies). It ensures security and reliability for critical applications.

Area of Coverage

  • The IRNSS/NavIC system is designed to provide accurate positioning information within India and the surrounding area, extending up to 1,500 km from India's boundaries. This includes the entire Indian subcontinent and its maritime boundaries.

Interoperability with Other GNSS

NavIC is designed to be interoperable with other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), such as:

  • GPS (USA)

  • GLONASS (Russia)

  • Galileo (EU)

  • BeiDou (China)

NavIC’s Standard Positioning Service (SPS) signals are compatible with the signals of other GNSS systems, making it possible for devices to use signals from multiple satellite systems to improve positioning accuracy and reliability.

Importance of IRNSS/NavIC

  • Independence in Navigation: NavIC reduces India’s dependency on foreign satellite systems, offering a sovereign, independent navigation infrastructure.

  • Strategic and Security Uses: The Restricted Service (RS) offered by NavIC is crucial for defense and security purposes, ensuring that critical military and strategic operations have access to secure, accurate navigation data.

  • Commercial and Civil Use: NavIC's Standard Positioning Service (SPS) is beneficial for commercial sectors, including transportation, logistics, farming, aviation, and mobile applications, contributing to the economy.


 

2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, China in 2025 brought together the heads of state of member countries to address a broad spectrum of issues, including secu
Share It

India’s Carbon Emissions Trading System

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has made a significant stride in India’s climate strategy by setting up the National Designated Authority (NDA) to implement a
Share It

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend various provisions across several central acts with the goal of decriminalizing offences and promoting
Share It

Fair and Representative Global Order

India’s External Affairs Minister recently called for a fair and representative global order during the BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival. The statement highlights the growing need for reforms
Share It

India's First EMI-Based Credit Card

Recently, Unity Small Finance Bank and BharatPe launched India's first EMI-driven credit card on the RuPay network. This innovative product allows users to pay for their purchases in full or c
Share It

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

Why in News? Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have gained prominence for their vital role in promoting collective action, protecting rights, and filling gaps in governance. They serve as cata
Share It

Supreme Court (SC) on Social Media Influencers

The Supreme Court (SC) has recently weighed in on the issue of social media influencers making derogatory remarks, emphasizing the need to strike a balance between free speech and the dignity of v
Share It

Mitochondrial Protein Import

Recent research from Caltech University has revealed new insights into the mechanisms of mitochondrial protein import, challenging the traditional understanding and offering a more complex view of
Share It

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

On August 29, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nomination of two new members to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the re-nomination of three existing members fo
Share It

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have made significant strides in deepening their economic partnership, with the recent signing of the Terms of Refer
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS