India to Launch its own GPS , better than existing system
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has played a key role in the development of our nation over the years. With its impressive space missions, ISRO has clearly put India on the map when it comes to space exploration. It is really breathtaking what we have achieved in a short span of 46 years. (ISRO was officially established in 1969)
Now onto the news: ISRO has planned to launch India’s very own GPS system. It’s called Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and its main purpose is to provide better GPS connectivity in the remote regions of the nation, as well as in other parts. The area of coverage encompasses all of India and 1,500 kms around the national boundaries.
The IRNSS system is actually a constellation of seven satellites. Three will be deployed in geostationary orbits while remaining four are deployed in geosynchronous orbits. All of them will be identically configured. A geosynchronous orbit is one in which an object returns to the same position in the sky after a period of one day (approx. 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds).
The orbit is inclined and eccentric i.e. not circular. A geostationary orbit is a special case of a geosynchronous orbit which is a circular orbit with zero inclination, and directly above the equator. An object in such an orbit will seem stationary to a ground observer, like a star.
Why all the technicality? Because it is an important precursor to the following point: Communication satellites are generally placed in geostationary orbits so that the ground and satellite antennas don’t have to be moved during communication. Instead, given the nature of the orbit, the antennas can remain pointed to a single location in the sky.
Back to the IRNSS; the system will provide two kinds of services.
1. Standard Positioning Service (SPS) – The conventional GPS service, open to all users.
2. Restricted Service (RS) – Secured service only meant only for authorized personnel.
The IRNSS mission is a big step towards technology-independence and sure to bring advantages.
Source:http://gadgets.ndtv.com
Mrityunjay Kumar is a multifaceted innovator — a tech entrepreneur by profession and a storyteller by passion. As Co-Founder and Director of Technology Strategy, he has led transformative initiatives in the startup ecosystem, architecting scalable solutions and aligning technology with long-term business vision. In 2025, Mrityunjay made his literary debut with Pagalpanthy – If You Had Loved Someone, a soul-stirring coming-of-age novel that explores the fragile beauty of young love, emotional vulnerability, and the chaos of unspoken feelings. Inspired by a true story shared with him nearly a decade ago, the novel traces the journey of Mrinal and Soumya across Kota, Bhubaneswar, and Dubai — blending themes of mentorship, heartbreak, and healing. A computer engineer by education and a dreamer by choice, Mrityunjay’s work — both in tech and fiction — reflects his deep empathy for human experiences that technology often overlooks. His writing is conversational, raw, and authentic, resonating with readers who’ve loved in silence or lost without closure. When he’s not building tech or writing stories, he enjoys long walks, nostalgic music, and connecting with readers who find pieces of themselves in his pages.
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