Central Idea

The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), India’s indigenous satellite navigation system, is set to be integrated into Aadhaar enrolment devices.
This strategic move, as revealed by the Department of Space (DoS) showcases the seamless amalgamation of advanced technologies to enhance the functionality and reach of essential services.

What is NAVIC?

History: Originally conceptualized as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the project sought to establish an autonomous navigation infrastructure to fulfill both civilian and strategic requirements.
Reducing Foreign Dependency: The core motivation behind NAVIC was to lessen dependence on foreign navigation systems like GPS and cultivate a self-reliant platform.
Comprehensive Constellation: The NAVIC constellation encompasses a total of 7** satellites.
Deployment Chronology: Launches of satellites such as IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1C, IRNSS-1D, IRNSS-1E, IRNSS-1F, and IRNSS-1I commenced in July 2013, continuing the phased deployment.

Standard Position Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS): NavIC offers two services – SPS for civilian users and RS for strategic users. These services are available in both L5 (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2498.028 MHz).
Coverage Area: NavIC covers India and extends up to 1,500 km beyond its borders. Upcoming satellites will include the L1 band compatible with civilian applications.

Field Trials and Technical Expertise: The DoS has successfully conducted field trials and provided technical expertise to finalize the procurement specifications for integrating NavIC into Aadhaar enrolment devices.
Current Setup: The Aadhaar enrolment kits presently use GPS for location-based services, which gather and authenticate personal information during enrolment.

Disaster Management: NavIC plays a pivotal role in the National Disaster Management Agency’s alert dissemination system for natural calamities like landslides, earthquakes, floods, and avalanches.
Ocean Information Broadcast: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information System employs NavIC to broadcast alerts regarding cyclones, high waves, and tsunamis to fishermen operating in deep-sea regions.
Standardization Efforts: Various organizations, including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Telecom Standards Development Society of India (TSDSI), Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), and international bodies like the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), are actively working on setting interoperability standards for NavIC.