NavIC (Space & Defence Sectors)
NavIC (Space & Defence Sectors)
Why In News:
The government informed Parliament that NavIC can no longer provide standalone positioning services, as the number of operational satellites has fallen below the minimum required for independent location fixing.
Source: The Indian Express, Page 9, 31 Jul 2026 – 'ISRO's NaVIC system can no longer provide navigation data independently: Govt'
What is NavIC?
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), operationally known as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), is India’s indigenous satellite navigation system.
Coverage Area: It provides accurate positioning services across India and up to 1,500 km beyond (Primary Service Area).
An Extended Service Area further spans from 30° South to 50° North latitude and 30° East to 130° East longitude.
Need for NavIC: The system was developed to ensure strategic autonomy in navigation. During the 1999 Kargil conflict, denial of GPS data by the US exposed the risks of dependence on foreign systems, leading to the approval of NavIC in 2006.
Services Offered:
Standard Positioning Service (SPS): Open to civilians for general navigation and positioning.
Restricted Service (RS):Encrypted service meant for authorised and strategic users, including defence.
Accuracy: NavIC delivers better than 20 metres accuracy within the primary service area, with 5–10 metres accuracy across India and about 20 metres in areas up to 1,500 km beyond.
Applications: NavIC supports land, air, and marine navigation, disaster management, and vehicle tracking/fleet management. It also enables integration with smartphones and smart devices, offers precise timing services, and aids in mapping, geodetic surveys, and navigation for drivers, hikers, and travellers.
The Current Shortfall
Only 3 satellites operational: IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I and NVS-01 are presently able to provide Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.
Minimum requirement: At least 4 operational satellites are needed to compute a user's position using NavIC signals alone.
Cause: The atomic clock aboard IRNSS-1F failed after it completed its 10-year mission life.
Timing services unaffected: NavIC continues to provide timing signals even though standalone positioning is currently unavailable.