NavIC (NAVigation with Indian Constellation) is an independent regional navigation satellite system, a concept/system, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is the operational name for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), a name coined by the Prime Minister in April 2016. The system was initially approved by the Indian government in 2006 and became operational in 2018. Its creation was driven by the need for strategic autonomy after the US denied GPS access to India during the Kargil War, solving the problem of dependency on foreign satellite systems.
NavIC operates with a constellation of seven satellites, with three in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and four in inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO). This configuration ensures continuous visibility over the primary service area, which covers India and extends up to 1,500 km from its boundary. The system provides two services: the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian use and the encrypted Restricted Service (RS) for authorized users like the military. It transmits signals on dual frequencies, the L5 band (1176.45 MHz) and the S band (2498.028 MHz), which enhances accuracy by correcting for atmospheric disturbances.
NavIC is one of only two regional navigation systems globally, alongside Japan's QZSS, and is distinct from the four global systems like GPS. It is a key component of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, with NavIC-based trackers being compulsory on commercial vehicles in India. Recently, a new civilian signal is being introduced in the L1 band (1575.42 MHz) to improve interoperability with other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Furthermore, the Bureau of Indian Standards has introduced comprehensive standards for NavIC receivers to accelerate its adoption.