Abstract
Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) has evolved from a supplementary cartographic discipline into the foundational bedrock of modern military operations, providing commanders with a decisive informational advantage. This whitepaper exhaustively analyses the role of GEOINT in India’s defence decision-making architecture, particularly within the context of an increasingly volatile Indo-Pacific region and a highly contested continental periphery. Driven by the strategic imperatives outlined in the Defence Forces Vision 2047, the Indian military is undergoing a paradigm shift from legacy, platform-centric strategies to intelligence-centric warfare. This transition is highlighted by the planned establishment of the Defence Geospatial Agency (DGA), the integration of multi-domain operations through Integrated Theatre Commands, and the execution of the Space-Based Surveillance Phase-III (SBS-III) project. Through an integrated analysis of satellite constellations, navigational autonomy via the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC), and the fusion of AI-enabled multi-sensor data, this report examines how India is striving for absolute technological sovereignty. It further explores the geopolitical ramifications of intelligence-sharing pacts, such as the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) with the United States, juxtaposed against the critical vulnerabilities of commercial “shutter control.” Ultimately, the analysis posits that the adoption of a “zero-trust” geospatial architecture and the seamless integration of artificial intelligence for rapid target annotation and spoof-detection are not merely optional upgrades, but existential necessities for India to secure its expanding regional and global interests.
