India is strengthening its indigenous satellite navigation capabilities through the GAGAN system, enhancing aircraft landing accuracy, aviation safety, and reliable positioning services across multiple strategic sectors.

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• GAGAN, which stands for GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation, is India’s indigenous Satellite-Based Augmentation System jointly developed by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India to improve navigation accuracy.
• Operational since 2015, the system enhances the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of Global Positioning System signals, enabling safer and more precise aircraft navigation across Indian airspace.
• The Satellite-Based Augmentation System improves navigation performance by using ground reference stations, master control centres, uplink stations, and geostationary satellites to correct positioning errors in real time.
• GAGAN operates through 15 Indian Reference Stations, two Master Control Centres, three land uplink stations, four communication networks, and three geostationary satellites, ensuring uninterrupted navigation services.
• The system utilises GSAT-8, GSAT-10, and GSAT-15 satellites to provide reliable signal augmentation and extensive navigation coverage for aviation and several other sectors.
• In June 2026, India successfully completed its first satellite-based landing approach using GAGAN on an IndiGo A320 aircraft at Udaipur Airport, marking a significant milestone in aviation technology.
• As of May 2026, the Airports Authority of India had introduced 23 LPV approach procedures, with plans to increase the number to more than 40 by the end of 2026.
• Beyond aviation, GAGAN supports maritime navigation, railways, road transport, disaster management, defence operations, telecommunications, and geospatial mapping across the country.
• Ongoing integration of GAGAN with NavIC is expected to strengthen India’s sovereign satellite navigation ecosystem by combining regional positioning and augmentation technologies.