02/22/2021 3 Minutes Read From a draconian Geospatial Information Regulation Bill in 2016, that sought to criminalize acquisition or distribution of any geospatial information of India without permission from proper government authorities, to complete deregulation of geospatial data last week, India has come a long way. Under the new guidelines released on February 15, all Indian entities will be free to acquire, collect, generate, prepare, disseminate, store, share, publish, distribute, update, digitize and/or create geospatial data, including maps, of any territorial waters by using any geospatial technology. The announcement is remarkable in many ways since it opens up huge opportunities for the Indian geospatial industry. In the words of Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, the reforms will unlock a value of INR 1,000 billion (USD 13.8 billion) by 2030, by creating tremendous opportunities for start-ups, private sector, public sector and research institutions. They will also generate employment and accelerate economic growth.