Google India may soon need license for its Maps

NEW DELHI: Online map service providers like Google and others may soon have to get license to operate as per the new Geospatial Information Regulation draft bill 2016. This bill comes against the backdrop of instances where certain social networking sites like Twitter showed Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as part of Pakistan and China respectively.

In 2014, Google was found displaying India’s map incorrectly by Survey of India.


The bill states that wrong depiction of the country’s map could land violators in trouble.

According to the draft bill, "No person shall depict, disseminate, publish or distribute any wrong or false topographic information of India including international boundaries through internet platforms or online services or in any electronic or physical form. Whoever acquired any geospatial information of India in contravention of the law shall be punished with a fine ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore and or imprisonment for a period up to seven years."


Companies will have to apply for licences within one year from the commencement of this Act.

“Every person who has already acquired any geospatial imagery or data of any part of India either through space or aerial platforms such as satellite, aircrafts, airships, balloons, unmanned aerial vehicles or terrestrial vehicles or any other manner including value addition prior to coming of this Act into effect, shall within one year from the commencement of this Act,make an application alongwith requisite fees to the Security Vetting Authority for retaining such geospatial information and grant of licence thereof,” adds the draft.

The government also proposes to set up an authority to carry out security vetting of the geospatial information of India in a time bound manner.

(With PTI inputs.)