The Department of Space and ISRO have implemented extensive space technology applications in Jammu & Kashmir over the last five years, utilizing 12 operational communication satellites that provide coverage over the Union Territory to enhance telecommunications and broadband connectivity. The space agency has undertaken 13 specific projects focused on disaster management, agriculture, water resources, urban planning, and environmental monitoring, including the Satellite Integrated Landslide Assessment and Alert System (SILAAS) for landslide mapping and village-wise alerts, landslide inventory mapping for the 2023 monsoon season across all districts, and glacial lake inventory with Glacial Lake Outburst Floods hazard and risk maps for Mundiksar lake.
Additional initiatives include monitoring of Integrated Watershed Management Programme watersheds using geospatial technologies across all 20 districts, Watershed Development Component-Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 project monitoring in all districts, Urban Waterbody Information System mapping for Anantnag, Jammu and Srinagar, Geo-MGNREGA Project Phase II for planning and monitoring MGNREGA activities in all districts, National Wetland Inventory and Assessment with University of Jammu, Desertification and Land Degradation monitoring with University of Kashmir, Long Term Ecological Research Stations covering North-West Himalaya, Space Based Information Support for Decentralised Planning Update for all districts, and annual land use/land cover assessments at multiple scales.
Financial details show seven projects with total sanctions of ₹400.85 lakhs, with complete utilization of funds in completed projects. The Land Cover Land Use project (2025-28) has ₹75.78 lakhs sanctioned with ₹30.31 lakhs released and utilized. SILAAS project (2023-28) has ₹50.16 lakhs sanctioned with ₹23.36 lakhs released and utilized. WDC-PMKSY 2.0 Monitoring (2023-29) has ₹4.95 lakhs sanctioned with ₹3.7 lakhs released and utilized. The Space based Information Support for Decentralised Planning project (2019-24) had ₹220 lakhs fully sanctioned, released and utilized. IWMP Watershed Monitoring (2022-23) had ₹27.62 lakhs fully sanctioned, released and utilized. National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (2018-22) had ₹11.43 lakhs sanctioned with ₹5 lakhs released and utilized. Desertification and Land Degradation project (2017-21) had ₹5.91 lakhs fully sanctioned, released and utilized.
ISRO is currently working on experimental landslide forecasting for all Jammu & Kashmir districts under the SILAAS project and conducts regular workshops and training programs for disaster management organizations. The agency has established the Satish Dhawan Centre for Space Science at Central University of Jammu to provide faculty and research students access to ISRO facilities. Tele-education is facilitated through satellites under the PM e-Vidya programme, and telemedicine nodes are installed in the region. In 2024, the High Throughput Satellite GSAT-N2 was added to enhance broadband connectivity including in Jammu and Kashmir.