Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016

India’s Geospatial Information Regulation Bill 2016 may have been a tad late, but the fuss points more to external interest.

Predicated on the irregular depiction of Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as being partially or wholly appropriated from the Indian mainland, the Bill is the government’s response to growing disharmony in the depiction of India’s boundaries and also protection of its strategic assets.

The Bill introduces the Security Vetting Authority which will issue licences to any entity or person wishing to acquire, disseminate or publish any geospatial information of India. Existing mapping services will have to submit applications to obtain licences to continue doing so within one year from commencement of the Act.

Cartographers failing to comply with the proposed law can face huge monetary penalties, imprisonment, and, of course, be barred from publishing the offending maps.

Protectionist, even denounced as nationalist, policies have been pursued by most nations when it comes to depiction of land and maritime borders. With the proliferation of digital maps and online sharing of maps, nations are fearful of boundaries being ‘redrawn’ by public misunderstanding. While the United States imposes strict curbs on private companies displaying details of strategically important bases, China requires internet companies abide by a far stricter information protocol.

Recent maritime disputes in the South China Sea between China, Philippines, Vietnam and a whole host of other nations have kept cartographers on their toes, with national boundaries being claimed and counter-claimed.

Tags : geospatial cartography online map jammu and kashmir arunachal pradesh

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