Context:
NavIC played a crucial role in the success of Operation Sindoor
NavIC:
- Stands for Navigation with Indian Constellation
- Objectives – To provide accurate real-time positioning and timing services to users in India as well as region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary.
- Designed by – Indian Space Research Organisation
- Consists of – A constellation of 7 satellites (Originally 8)
- 3 satellites are in Geostationary Orbit (GEO)
- 4 satellites are in Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO)
- Each satellite has 3 rubidium clocks.
- Recognised by International Maritime Organization – As a part of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) to operate in the Indian Ocean Region
- 2 services – Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users + Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users
- Applications – Transportation (terrestrial, aerial and marine), Location based services, Personal mobility, Resource monitoring, Surveying and geodesy, Scientific research, Time dissemination and synchronisation, Safety-of-life alert dissemination, Banking etc.
- Other Navigation Systems operational in the world –
- 4 global systems: GPS (U.S), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), BeiDou (China)
- 2 regional systems: NavIC (India), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (Japan)
Source: DDNews
Previous Year Questions
Which one the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Israel
(d) Japan
Answer: (d)