By Author – Samata Shelare
India is taking a remarkable step forward with the development of its own navigation system. While most countries depend on the American Global Positioning System (GPS), India is now set to establish independence in this field through its Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NavIC.
Expected to be fully operational by mid-2016, IRNSS is designed to provide accurate position information across India and up to 1,500 kilometers beyond its borders. The system will consist of seven satellites, with four already placed in orbit. The complete network will include three satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and four in Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) at approximately 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
About IRNSS (NavIC)
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System is an independent regional satellite navigation system developed by India, designed to offer accurate real-time positioning and timing services. It matches the performance of other global systems like the U.S. GPS but focuses primarily on the Indian region and nearby areas.
Types of Services Provided by NavIC
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Standard Positioning Service (SPS): Available for all users.
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Restricted Service (RS): An encrypted service designed specifically for authorized users, such as military and security agencies.
Applications of IRNSS
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Terrestrial, aerial, and marine navigation
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Disaster management operations
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Vehicle tracking and fleet management
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Precision mapping and data capture
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Timing synchronization for various sectors
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Navigation support for hikers, travelers, and drivers
How IRNSS Works
While the American GPS relies on 24 satellites, IRNSS utilizes a more regionally optimized configuration where four satellites remain in geosynchronous orbits, ensuring continuous visibility to receivers across India and up to 1,500 kilometers beyond.
Each satellite carries three rubidium atomic clocks that maintain precise timing and location data. The constellation’s first satellite, IRNSS-1A, was launched on July 1, 2013, and the seventh and final one, IRNSS-1G, was launched on April 28, 2016.
Current Status and Challenges
Although India’s navigation system is operational, its commercial use is still under development. The main challenge lies in the availability of NavIC-compatible chipsets for smartphones and wireless devices. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is currently working to develop and release these chipsets in the market.
The system uses both L-band and S-band signals, which, when processed by advanced embedded software, can significantly reduce atmospheric interference. This results in better accuracy than the American GPS system in regional applications.
Strategic Significance
At present, only the U.S. GPS and Russia’s GLONASS are fully functional, independent navigation systems. With IRNSS, India becomes the third nation to have its own reliable, independent navigational capability.
This achievement ensures that India will no longer depend on foreign systems like GPS for critical defense and strategic operations. For instance, during the Kargil War, India had to rely on U.S. GPS data for its military operations — a scenario that highlighted the need for self-reliance in navigation technology.
With IRNSS, India now ensures greater national security, data confidentiality, and technological independence.