NAVIC (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech)

Context: Recently, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, announced that the government intends to mandate smartphone integration with India's own navigation system, NavIC.

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) Technology

• About: An autonomous regional satellite navigation system,also known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
• Developed by:  ISRO.
• Coverage Area: Its purpose is to furnish precise positioning information to users within India and a region extending up to 1500 km beyond its borders.
• Two Types of Services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS): This service is accessible to all users, offering basic navigation assistance.

          o Restricted Service (RS): The restricted service is encrypted and exclusively available to authorized users for enhanced security.

System Features

• Accuracy: The IRNSS System is expected to deliver position accuracy better than 20 meters in its primary service area.
• Satellite Configuration: Presently, the system comprises 7 operational satellites positioned approximately 36,000 km away:

         o 3 satellites reside in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).

         o 4 satellites are positioned in an inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO).