A Long Awaited Overhaul Of Map Regulations In India

Livemint     17th February 2021     Save    

Context: The easing of curbs on our geospatial data use will enable and transform a vast range of web services.

Key Features of Guidelines on Geospatial and Map Regulations

  • No prior approvals and security clearances: for the areas to be blacked out  
    • Self-certification: Map companies will be trusted to self-certify their compliance.
    • No map should identify or associate any place on a map with a list of prohibited attributes.
  • Permitted export of maps: above specified threshold values (1-metre horizontal resolution and 3 metres vertical) and allowed their storage on an internet cloud
  • Permitted use of advanced cartographic technologies (capable of creating high-resolution three-dimensional maps).
  • Usage Limited to Indian entities: in terms of advanced mapping technologies by Indian entities and storage of maps created by technologies to Indian servers or a domestic cloud.

        Significance of New Guidelines on Geospatial and Map Regulation of India 

        • Replaced obsolete mapping policy: that was based on decade-old anachronistic mapping practices.
        • Improve the ease and cost of doing business: Random acts of enforcement without guidelines acted as a cost of doing business for companies.
          • Made all the location-based services apps legal by allowing their storage on an internet cloud.
        • Benefits of advanced cartographic technologies
          • Navigation systems: Hyper-resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) maps can be used in navigation systems.
          • Logistics and delivery solutions: deploying drones for automated doorstep delivery (by extruding mapped surfaces into the third dimension).
          • Manage utilities such as power grids and water and sewage infrastructure.
          • Revolutionize warehousing and inventory management.
          • Provide a competitive edge to Indian start-ups by restricting usage of advanced cartographic technologies to Indian entities only and removing harsh regulations.