Mapping India

Opening up access to geospatial data is a welcome step

The decision to liberalise the Indian geospatial information sector, enabling accurate digital mapping, is an important reform measure. The government has removed restrictions dating back to the British Raj, enabling many businesses to work more efficiently and opening up new opportunities. An earlier attempt to update geospatial policies in 2016 failed because the draft Bill was well behind the technological curve and restrictive in nature. However, the new policy should ideally be backed up by legislation that protects private personal data, and by a less restrictive drone policy. Details of the actual policy are also required, rather than just the