Lok Sabha Question No. 1723 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-09
Subject: Development in Space Technology
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE, KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

- (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1723

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2015

## DEVELOPMENT IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY

1723. SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE: DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI: SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- whether  the  Government  has  organised  a  National  level meet  to  provide  an  opportunity  for  interaction  amongst Governments  towards enhanced utilisation of the space technology in governance
- (a) Ministries/departments and State and  development;
- (b)
- if so, the details in this regard;
- (c) whether  any  study  has  been  undertaken  to  find  out  the utilisation of space technology in governance and development in the country;
- (d)
- if so, the details in this regard; and
- (e) the  details  of  steps  taken  so  far  by  the  Government  to enhance  the  use  of  space  technology  in  governance  and development in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- Yes Madam.
- (b) A  one  day  National  Meet  on  'Promoting  Space  Technology based tools and Applications on Governance & Development' was organized on September 07, 2015 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi with the participation of Central Ministries / Departments and State Governments. The National Meet comprised of nine theme  sessions  namely  Agriculture,  Energy  &  Environment, Infrastructure Planning, Water Resources, Technology Diffusion, Developmental Planning, Communication & Navigation,  Weather  &  Disaster  Management  and  Health  & Education.  Secretaries  of  58  Ministries/  Departments  have presented the action plans jointly prepared with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to enhance functional effectiveness,  facilitate  planning  and  decision  making.  Chief Secretaries/ Principal Secretaries of 9 States have also made presentations on use of space technology in specific sectors in their States.
- (c),(d)&(e) The  requirements  and  utilization of space  technology  in governance and development in the country is assessed from time  to  time  through  the  standing  committees  (chaired  by Secretaries to GOI) under National Natural Resources Management System to provide impetus for operational use of space  technology  and  also  through  user  meet  organised annually.  In  the  recent  past,  the  interactions  of  the  expert working groups of ISRO with various Ministries / Departments have  given  better  understanding  of  the  utilisation  of  space technology in governance & development and culminated into the organisation of the National Meet.

The steps taken by ISRO so far to enhance the use of space technology  in  governance  and  development  in  the  country include:

- (i)
- Formation of expert working groups in ISRO.
- (ii) Preparation  of  joint  action  plan  on  'Effective  use  of Space Technology' and Identification of Space Applications addressing the requirements of Ministries / Departments.
- (iii)
- Conduct of Proof of Concept or Pilot projects
- (iv)
- Development of customised tools and applications
- (v) Development  of  a  Web  based  Geo-portal  'Bhuvan'  for providing  satellite  data  and  development  of  tools  for visualisation, analysis and dissemination.
- Institutionalisation  of  space  applications  and  enabling formation  of  space  technology  cells  in  the  Ministries  /
- (vi) Departments
- (vii) Capacity building of the officials of Ministries / Departments

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