A Long Awaited Overhaul Of Map Regulations In India

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.