Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: PIB
Context: For the first time, chipsets capable of receiving and processing signals from India’s indigenous navigational system, NavIC, will be designed and manufactured in India by an Indian company.
- Currently, not all smartphones and navigational devices are compatible with NavIC, as they require NavIC-compatible chipsets to decode its signals, often sourced from foreign companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek.
- In a joint effort between the Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, an Indian company, based in Hyderabad, will design and commercially produce these chipsets.
NavIC, known as the Navigation with Indian Constellation, is a constellation of seven satellites owned and operated by India, offering precise navigation and positioning up to 1500 km beyond its territorial boundary.
It functions similarly to GPS but is owned and operated by India, covering the entire Indian subcontinent with a positional accuracy of 5 meters, surpassing GPS’s 15-20 meters.
