As India’s DPI continues to evolve, trusted location intelligence is poised to become the invisible layer that connects digital ambition with physical reality, writes Sajid Malik.
India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has transformed identity, payments, and service delivery. Yet every digital service ultimately has a physical destination. That makes location intelligence an increasingly important layer in ensuring that digital systems translate into real-world outcomes.
The country’s identification, payment, and government services have become increasingly efficient, effective, and inclusive. In the midst of such an ecosystem, another critical layer is quietly becoming indispensable: trusted geospatial intelligence.
Every public service begins with a policy, but succeeds only when it reaches the right place. Whether delivering welfare benefits to the intended household or a road that connects people, it is built to serve. After all, location is the foundation of effective governance. Critical infrastructure requires planning based on a sound understanding of the physical environment in which it will operate.
Hence, geography is no longer just about maps; it is increasingly central to decision-making.
Over the past few years, it has been encouraging to see this thinking reflected in India’s approach to infrastructure planning. The National Geospatial Policy, the growing adoption of PM GatiShakti and the announcement of the National Geospatial Mission all point to a broader recognition that spatial data is emerging as an essential public resource rather than a specialised technical asset.
The progress is visible on the ground as well. Today, PM GatiShakti brings together more than 1,463 geospatial data layers across 57 ministries, departments and States and Union Territories, creating a shared view of infrastructure planning. The platform has already supported the evaluation of 293 projects worth over ₹13.59 trillion, demonstrating how location-based insights can improve coordination at a national scale.
What is equally encouraging is the range of applications now emerging. India’s first digital twin of the Ganga River Basin uses AI, remote sensing and geospatial intelligence to strengthen flood forecasting and water management. However, GIS-enabled systems are also aiding in the monitoring of over 150,000 public assets like roads, bridges, and public buildings.
The common denominator that one finds across all these examples is not just the technology, but the change in the discourse on planning itself. Maps are no longer static reference documents. They are evolving into dynamic decision-support systems that bring together multiple datasets, helping planners understand relationships, anticipate challenges and make better-informed choices.
This is where location intelligence becomes especially relevant to DPI. Just as digital identity has built public trust and digital payments have transformed transactions, credible geospatial data can create a shared understanding of place. It connects infrastructure with services, policy with implementation, and digital systems with the realities of the physical world.
The true significance of location intelligence will not be measured by the sophistication of maps or the volume of data generated. It will be seen in better-planned cities, more resilient infrastructure, faster public service delivery and more informed governance.
As India’s DPI continues to evolve, trusted location intelligence is poised to become the invisible layer that connects digital ambition with physical reality.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sajid Malik, Chairman & Managing Director of Genesys International Corp. Ltd and a seasoned business leader, is recognised as a pioneer of India’s geospatial industry, shaping its role in national infrastructure and smart city initiatives.