Recognising that Remote Sensing data provides much essential and critical natural resources information – which is an input for developmental activities at different levels and is also of benefit to society;

Noting that a large number of users – both within and outside government use Remote Sensing data from Indian and foreign remote sensing satellites for various developmental applications;

Taking into consideration the recent availability of very high-resolution images from foreign and commercial remote sensing satellites and noting the need for proper and better management of the data acquisition distribution from these satellites in India;

Recognising that national interest is paramount and that security consideration of the country needs to be given utmost importance;

The Government of India adopts the Remote Sensing Data Policy (RSDP) – containing modalities for managing and/or permitting the acquisition/dissemination of remote sensing data in support of developmental activities.
Department of Space (DOS) of the Government of India will be the nodal agency for all actions under this policy, unless otherwise stated.

1. For operating a remote sensing satellite from India, license and/or permission of the Government, through the nodal agency, will be necessary.
   

a.    As a national commitment and as a “public good”, Government assures a continuous/improving                                observing/imaging capability from its own Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) programme.

b.   The Government of India, through the nodal agency, will be the sole and exclusive owner of all     data                     collected/received from IRS. All users will be provided with only a license to use the said     data and add                value to the    satellite data.

c.    Government reserves right to impose control over imaging tasks and distribution of data from     IRS or any             other Indian remote sensing satellite when it is of the opinion that national security   and/or international                    obligations and/or foreign policies of the Government so require.


2.  For acquisition/distribution of remote sensing data within India, license/permission from the Government of   India, through the nodal agency, will be necessary.
   

   a.    Government reserves the right to select and permit agencies to acquire/distribute satellite  remote sensing          data in India. DOS shall be competent to decide about the procedure for granting license/permission for            dissemination of such data and for the levy of necessary fees.
   

   b.    To cater to the developmental needs of the country, the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSC) of the         DOS is vested with the authority to acquire and disseminate all satellite remote sensing data in India –         bothfrom Indian and foreign satellites.
   

                   i.   NRSC will enter into appropriate arrangements with DOS for acquiring/distributing data from IRS                       within the visibility circle of NRSC receiving station(s).
         

                 ii. NRSC will be competent to enter into agreements with foreign satellite operator(s) for                        acquisition/distribution of foreign satellite data in India. However, so far as the acquisition/distribution                      ofIKONOS data in India is concerned, Antrix Corporation Limited (of DOS) will conclude                       agreements with Space Imaging, USA on such terms and conditions as may be considered                        appropriate by it and  NRSC will distribute the data as per terms agreed to with Antrix.
   

   c.    NRSC will maintain a systematic National Remote Sensing Data Archive and a log of allacquisitions/sales         ofdata for all satellites.
   

3.       For acquisition/distribution of IRS data for use in countries other than India, the Government of India, through       the nodal agency, would grant license to such bodies/agencies of those countries as are interested in the       acquisition/distribution of IRS data, as per specific procedures.
   

    a.     The Antrix Corporation Limited (of DOS) is vested with the authority for receiving theapplications for           grant of license for acquisition/distribution of IRS data outside of India; to consider and decide about           thegrant of license within the policy considerations of theGovernment and to enter into licensing           agreements with the prospective users on behalf of theGovernment. It shall be competent to levy such           fees for granting licenses as may be considered appropriate by it. It shall also be responsible, where           necessary, for rendering any further  help/guidance needed by the license.
   

   b.     The Government reserves right to impose restrictions over imaging tasks and distribution ofIRS data in any         country when it is of the opinion that national security and/or international obligations and/or foreign policies         of the Government so require.
   

4.       Government prescribes the following guidelines to be adopted for dissemination of satellite remote sensing       data in India:
   

   a.   All data of resolutions up to 5.8 m shall be distributed on a nondiscriminatory basis and on “as requested        basis”
   

   b.  With a view to protect national security interests, all data of 5.8 m and better than 5.8 m  resolution images will       be screened by the appropriate agency before distribution so that imagesof sensitive areas are excluded.
   

              i.    Data of 5.8m and up to 1m resolution can be distributed to users after screening                   and ensuring   the  sensitive areas are excluded.
             

             Ii.   Data of 1m resolution and better will also be screened as above and the following procedure  will be                  followed  for its distribution.
   

                   1.   Government users can obtain the data without any further clearance.
   

                   2.   Private sector agencies, recommended by at least one Government agency for use of 1m and                      better resolution data for supporting development activities, can obtain it without                      any  further clearance.
   

                   3. OtherPrivate, Foreign and other users can abtainthedataafterfurtherclearancefrominter-agency
                        High Resolution Image Clearance Committee (HRC).
   
   

                   4.  Specific requests for data of sensitive areas, by any user, can be  distributed only                     afterobtainingclearance from HRC.
   
   

                   5.  Specific sale/non-disclosure agreements to be concluded between NRSC and users for data  of 1 m                     resolution  and better.
   

5. This policy comes into effect immediately and may be reviewed from time-totime- by  Government.