- Why in news
- On 25 March 2026, in a written Lok Sabha reply, the Department of Space said 8 of the 11 NavIC satellites launched are functional, and that work continues on adopting NavIC in air traffic management.
- What it is
- NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India's own regional satellite navigation system, built by ISRO. It gives Position, Navigation and Timing services over India and a surrounding region. GAGAN is a separate space-based augmentation system that improves GPS accuracy for air navigation, run by ISRO with the Airports Authority of India.
- Satellites launched and working
- Eleven NavIC satellites have been launched and eight are functional.
- Signal status
- Three satellites broadcast navigation signals. Five can broadcast signals for one-way messaging only.
- Coverage
- NavIC provides PNT services over India and a region extending up to 1500 km beyond the Indian land mass.
- GAGAN
- GAGAN is India's space-based augmentation system and is operational for air navigation services.
- Roadmap
- The plan includes completing the NavIC base layer constellation and inducting indigenous technologies such as a space-grade atomic clock.
- Developer
- NavIC was developed by ISRO and is also called IRNSS.
Don’t confuse with NavIC vs GAGAN: NavIC is an independent regional navigation constellation. GAGAN only augments GPS signals for better accuracy, mainly for aviation.
Don’t confuse with NavIC vs GPS: GPS is the US global system. NavIC is India's regional system.
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 independent positioning system, reducing reliance on foreign systems like GPS.
- Supports civil uses such as maritime operations, disaster management, train tracking and fishing vessel communication.
Problems
- Only three of eleven satellites broadcast navigation signals, limiting service reliability.
- Adoption in air traffic management is still under discussion.
Way forward
- Complete the NavIC base layer constellation and enhance services.
- Induct indigenous space-grade atomic clocks and widen use in critical infrastructure.
Put in your answer
Current constellation status: Eleven satellites launched, eight functional, three broadcasting navigation signals.
Infrastructure uses: DoS is broadening NavIC use in real-time train tracking, fishing vessel communication and vehicle location systems.
- 2018Mains GS1 · Q4Why is IRNSS needed, and how does it help in navigation?
- 2015Mains GS3 · Q11Explain standard versus precision positioning and advantages of IRNSS's seven satellites.
- 2018Prelims Q61Which statements on IRNSS satellite orbits, coverage, and global reach are correct?
- 2025Prelims Q94Which statements about GAGAN's accuracy, air traffic benefits, and scope are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.