The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch an IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) image portal called “Bhuvan” and an information portal called “Bhu Sampada” by March 2009. Means India will soon have a desi version of Google Earth - “Bhuvan”, the popular satellite-mapping tool that allows you to zoom in on any spot on the planet by using just a PC.

ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair announced that Christened “Bhuvan”, the new program will focus on the sub-continent, mapping the upper land surface and the mineral content beneath. Even Bhuvan will provide the latest information on Natural Resources, Floods, Famines, Infrastructure Development, Education and much more.

Bhuvan will show images 20 times closer than those taken by Google Earth, and they will be upgraded every year. ISRO officials say the requisite software and infrastructure of Bhuvan are already in place and they hope to have it operational by next March.

Nair also elaborated on the role played by space technology in societal development. ''The use of satellites in communications, in remote sensing, in GIS, in tele-education and in tele-medicine should not be underestimated. EDUSAT has created more than 30,000 virtual classrooms while about 300,000 patients have been benefited by use of tele-medicine. About 450 Village Resource Centers in 22 states have also become operational,'' he said.