Lok Sabha Question No. 5360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Satellite Launching
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5360

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

## SATELLITE LAUNCHING

## 5360.   SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of total number of satellites launched in the country till date;
- (b) whether the Government has set any target to launch satellites for the benefit of various sectors of the country;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the targeted objectives have been achieved successfully  till  date  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not, reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  effective  measures  to ensure  better  performance  of  the  satellite  programmes  in  the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) As on date, total satellites launched by ISRO are as follows:
- (b) Yes, Madam.
- (c) ISRO  has  planned  to  launch  state-of-the-art  satellites  in  the areas of earth observations, meteorology, communication, navigation  and  space  science.  The  data  and  services  through the  synergistic  use  of  these  satellites  are  intended  to  benefit various sectors, which include - (i) Socio-economic Security viz. food, water, energy, health, shelter, infrastructure; (ii) Sustainable development; (iii) Disaster Risk Reduction; (iv)  Weather  &  Ocean  state  forecast  and  (v)  Governance  and development.

| Experimental/Technology Demonstrator Satellite   |   8 |
|--------------------------------------------------|-----|
| Remote Sensing Satellite                         |  31 |
| Meteorological Satellite                         |   3 |
| Communication Satellite                          |  35 |
| Navigational Satellite                           |   8 |
| Science Satellite                                |   8 |

The target of communication satellites is to meet the transponder requirements. Today we have 15 operational satellites  and  105  foreign  leased  transponders  to  meet  the demand. In order to address growing demand, additional satellites are scheduled for the launch.

In  the  area  of  navigation,  with  7  in-orbit  IRNSS  satellites  and another satellite,  IRNSS-1I,  scheduled  for  launch  in April  2018, the targeted accuracy of less than 20 m is also available over India and 1500 Km beyond region.

- (d) Yes,  Madam.  Earth  Observation  (EO)  data,  in  conjunction  with field information, have been supporting a host of applications in the areas of land, water & ocean resources, weather & climate, environment & eco-system, urban & rural development, disaster risk  reduction  and  Governance.  Many  of  the  applications  have been effectively adopted by stakeholder Departments for operational  use.  A  few  of  such  applications  include:  Potential Fishing  Zone  Forecast  &  Ocean  State  Forecast  (by  Indian National  Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services,  MoES),  Crop Acreage  and  Production  Forecasting  &  National  Agricultural Drought  Assessment  and  Monitoring  System  (by  Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre, MoA&FW), Biennial Forest Cover Assessment  (by  Forest  Survey  of  India,  MoEF&CC),  Irrigation Infrastructure Assessment (by Central Water Commission, MoWR,  RD&GR),  Weather  forecasting  (by  India  Meteorological Department, MoES), Integrated Watershed Management Programme &  MGNREGA (by MoRD). In  addition,  tele-medicine and tele-education services are also in place.
- (e) In order to ensure better performance of the satellite programmes,  the  Department  has  taken  following  measures  (i) conduct of user interaction meets and utilization programmes; (ii)  capacity  building  for  space  applications;  (iii)  creation  of  an outreach  facility; (iv)  development  of  geospatial tools  and information  systems,  (v)  Proof  of  Concept  demonstration  and (vi) Institutionalisation of space applications.

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