Lok Sabha Question No. 1897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Space Technology to Support Flagship National Initiatives
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Shri Saumitra Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1897

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026

SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT FLAGSHIP NATIONAL INITIATIVES

1897.  SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the Government plan to leverage space technology  to  support  flagship  national  initiatives  such  as Digital India, Smart Cities Mission and agricultural monitoring especially in West Bengal, and
- (b) whether the Government is likely to provide insights into the measures adopted to build human capital in the space sector including specialized training, research funding and academic collaborations  to  cultivate  a  skilled  workforce  especially  in West Bengal and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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- (a) The  operational  communication  satellites  are  used  to  provide applications like television broadcasting, DTH television, telecommunication, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) services, radio networking, Headend In The Sky (HITS), Digital Satellite  News  Gathering  (DSNG),  societal  applications  (like tele-education, tele-medicine and disaster  management)  in West Bengal which support flagship initiatives like Digital India. The Department of Fisheries with the technology developed by ISRO  using  NavIC  and  communication  satellite  has  rolled  out the Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS) project under  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  to provide  safety-of-life  and  disaster  alerts  to  fishermen.  This project is implemented in coastal states including West Bengal. BharatNet Programme also aims to provide broadband connectivity  to  Gram  Panchayats.  ISRO's  Bhuvan  Geoportal provides online services of remote sensing data, thematic maps and geotagging support, facilitating rural planning in line with Digital India needs.

Roof-top Photo Voltaic (PV) potential assessment was done for 98 smart cities using space inputs, including four cities in West Bengal.

Towards agricultural monitoring, Jute Crop Information System is  developed  to  address  crop  acreage,  surveillance  of  crop condition  and  production  estimate  using  geospatial  approach. Production forecast for Potato, an important cash crop in West Bengal  and  Crop  Area  Estimation  for  Groundnuts  is  done through  remote  sensing  based  methods.  Bangla  Shasya  Bima Scheme,  a  crop  insurance  mechanism  involving  geospatial approach is implemented in association with private insurance provider and technology partner.

- (b) Indian  Space  Research  Organisation  has  collaborated  with academic  institutions  through  various  programmes  for  the promotion of research and development in the areas of space technology, space science and space applications. Programmes such  as  Space  Technology  Cells  (STC)  established  in  premier institutions  like  IIT's,  region  wise  programmes,  which  are leading to advance cutting edge research in the country. These collaborations  are  key  to  build  a  strong  academia-industry ecosystem,  accelerating  technology,  indigenous  development and  strengthening  India's  space  ecosystem.  ISRO  has  taken various steps to promote research in space science & technology through academia programmes across West Bengal by setting up-
-  Space Technology Cell (STC) in IIT Kharagpur.
-  Regional Academic Centre for space (RAC-S) in NIT Patna where it covers the state of West Bengal.
-  Space Technology Incubation Centre (STIC) in NIT Rourkela where it covers the state of West Bengal.
-  Training programmes & workshops are carried out by ISRO/ DoS, addressing remote sensing and geospatial applications  for  officials  from  Indian  Audit  &  Accounts Department (IA&AD), Tea board India, Jute Corporation of India Ltd. and various academia.
-  Carbon Exchange studies on Jute crop is done in collaboration with ICAR-CRIJAF Barrackpore.
-  In addition to this, ISRO Sponsored Research Projects are also allotted to Universities/ Colleges in the state of West Bengal.

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