Context: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the Self Certification Portal for conveying adherence to provisions of Geospatial Guidelines by Individuals, companies, organizations, and government agencies.

About the Self Certification Portal

• Purpose: This Portal facilitates entities engaged in map-related activities to certify themselves quickly and easily.
• Developed by: The Portal has been developed by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with NIC.

Other information regarding the portal: The self-certification facility for entities in the portal is free and universal. Entities can be

• a) Individuals or organisations, b) Govt or Private, c) Indian or Foreign, d) Engaged in production or sales etc.

The portal is built based on Geo-Spatial guidelines released by Govt of India in Feb 2021.

Note: The guidelines have deregulated all aspects of mapping activities in India from surveys to sales.

Key significance of the Self Certification Portal

• The portal will streamline the process of creation of Geospatial Data, Maps, products, solutions and services with a self-certification regime.
• The portal will cut down time spent on obtaining clearances and approvals drastically for Geospatial companies, researchers, academia, and innovators for carrying out Geospatial related activities. Earlier, this process would take up around a year’s time in prior approvals and clearances before actually starting the work on the project.
• The portal will fast-track the Geospatial related activities in India. The liberalized Geospatial regime would play a pivotal role to modernize agriculture, manufacturing, construction, utilities, disaster management, urban development and governance.

By: Shubham Tiwari