The Navigation with Indian Constellation or NavIC, the seven-satellite system that makes up India’s version of the American GPS (global positioning system), will soon be integrated into Aadhaar enrolment devices across the country, the Department of Space (DoS) told the Parliamentary Committee of Science and Technology.

“The department has facilitated successful conduct of field trials, and is providing technical expertise in finalization of procurement specification of the devices,” it said in response to queries by the committee. Currently, the Aadhaar enrolment kits that are used to collect and verify personal details are linked to GPS.

NavIC, which stands for Navigation with Indian Constellation, is an autonomous satellite navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

It is designed to provide accurate positioning and timing information over India and the surrounding region.

NavIC is India's regional satellite navigation system and is intended to provide an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the region.

NavIC consists of a constellation of seven satellites in geosynchronous and geostationary orbits.

These satellites transmit signals that can be received by GPS receivers to determine accurate position, velocity, and timing information.

The system aims to provide better accuracy and coverage in the Indian region compared to relying solely on GPS signals.

Navigation: Providing accurate positioning information for vehicles, ships, aircraft, and other transportation systems.

Disaster Management: Assisting in disaster management by providing accurate location information during emergencies.

Agriculture: Supporting precision agriculture by helping farmers with accurate positioning for crop monitoring and management.

Surveying and Mapping: Aiding in accurate mapping and surveying activities.

Telecommunications: Synchronizing telecommunications networks and enhancing network efficiency.

Timing: Providing accurate timing information for various applications that require precise synchronization.

NavIC is part of India's efforts to become more self-reliant in critical technologies and to reduce dependency on foreign navigation systems. It is worth noting that NavIC is compatible with GPS and other global navigation satellite systems, allowing devices to receive signals from multiple constellations for improved accuracy and reliability.