- Why in news
- On 1 July 2026, PIB published a backgrounder on GAGAN. It notes that in June 2026 the DGCA conducted India's first satellite-based landing approach on a commercial jet using GAGAN.
- What it is
- GAGAN is India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System, built jointly by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India. It corrects GPS signals and gives integrity alerts so aircraft can navigate and approach runways safely. It is separate from NavIC, India's own regional navigation satellite constellation.
- Developers
- GAGAN was developed jointly by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India.
- Satellites
- GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15 carry GAGAN payloads. They are geostationary.
- Interoperability
- GAGAN works with the US WAAS, European EGNOS and Japanese MSAS. It is the first SBAS certified for the equatorial region.
- Status
- GAGAN has been fully operational since 2015.
- GAGAN vs NavIC
- GAGAN improves GPS signals. NavIC is an independent regional navigation system.
Don’t confuse with GAGAN vs NavIC: GAGAN is an SBAS that corrects GPS for aviation. NavIC is India's own regional satellite constellation giving positioning and timing.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Gives India an indigenous SBAS for safer aviation and satellite-based landings, supporting self-reliance.
- Its uses reach maritime, rail, disaster management, surveying and telecom.
Problems
- It still depends on GPS signals, so it does not replace an independent system.
- Landing approaches need aircraft and airports to be equipped and certified.
Way forward
- Extend satellite-based approaches to more airports and aircraft.
- Use GAGAN together with NavIC to reduce reliance on foreign systems.
Put in your answer
First SBAS-based landing approach: In June 2026 the DGCA conducted India's first satellite-based landing approach on a commercial jet using GAGAN.
NavIC abroad: In 2025 India signed an agreement with South Africa to set up a NavIC reference station.
- 2018Mains GS1 · Q4Why IRNSS is needed and how it aids navigation.
- 2015Mains GS3 · Q11Explain standard versus precision positioning in GPS era; IRNSS advantages.
- 2025Prelims Q94Which statements about GAGAN's accuracy, integrity, and benefits are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Pairs
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following pairs about India's satellite-based navigation:
- 1.GAGAN — Satellite-Based Augmentation System that improves GPS signals and gives integrity information
- 2.GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15 — Geostationary satellites that carry GAGAN payloads
- 3.NavIC — Satellite-Based Augmentation System that works only by correcting GPS signals
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.GAGAN is a Satellite-Based Augmentation System that improves GPS accuracy and provides integrity information.
True. GAGAN is an SBAS giving real-time corrections and integrity information.
2.GAGAN was developed by ISRO alone, without any other agency.
False. It was developed jointly by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India.
3.GAGAN is an independent navigation constellation that does not depend on GPS signals.
False. GAGAN augments GPS; the independent regional system is NavIC.
4.GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15 carry GAGAN payloads.
True. These three geostationary satellites carry GAGAN payloads.
5.GAGAN is interoperable with the US WAAS, European EGNOS and Japan's MSAS.
True. It is interoperable with WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS.
6.GAGAN's master control centres process data from reference stations and generate integrity information.
True. INMCC processes reference station data, calculates corrections and generates integrity information.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.