All smartphones will be required to support NavIC, the indigenous navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), by the end of 2025, according to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology.
This mandate follows Apple’s recent inclusion of NavIC support in some iPhone 15 models.
Chandrasekhar also mentioned the possibility of providing incentives for using Indian-made or -designed NavIC-supporting chips in smartphone production, similar to the incentives offered in the IT hardware production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
He clarified that NavIC support would be in addition to other existing GPS systems already in use by smartphones.
NavIC, which currently comprises seven satellites, covers India and surrounding areas and is expected to expand its network to offer global coverage in the future.
