{"id":93174,"date":"2026-03-17T11:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T05:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=93174"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:36:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T06:06:00","slug":"navic-atomic-clock-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/navic-atomic-clock-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"NavIC Atomic Clock Failure: Impact on India\u2019s GPS Ambitions Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>NavIC Atomic Clock Failure Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s regional navigation system <\/span><b>NavIC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has faced another setback after the atomic clock onboard the IRNSS-1F satellite stopped functioning, leading to the loss of its positioning data.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the satellite will still provide messaging services, atomic clocks are essential for accurate navigation signals used in mapping, vehicle navigation, and infrastructure planning.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The issue is compounded by the <\/span><b>NVS-02<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> replacement satellite failing to reach its final orbit, further affecting the system\u2019s positioning capability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>About IRNSS or NavIC<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), is India\u2019s satellite-based navigation system designed to provide positioning services over India and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NavIC was planned as a <\/span><b>seven-satellite constellation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, similar in concept to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), to deliver reliable navigation and timing information across the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When fully operational, NavIC is designed to provide <\/span><b>location accuracy of about 10 metres<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over India and neighbouring areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because its satellites are positioned directly above the region, signals are stronger and more reliable in challenging terrains such as valleys and forests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite its strategic importance, the NavIC system has faced technical issues since its inception, affecting the consistent availability of accurate positioning services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Status of NavIC Satellites Providing Positioning Data<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the 2023 launch, five satellites in the NavIC constellation were capable of providing positioning data: <\/span><b><i>IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1C, IRNSS-1F, IRNSS-1I, and NVS-01<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (a new-generation NavIC satellite).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the failure of the atomic clock on IRNSS-1F, the satellite can no longer provide positioning data, reducing the number of operational satellites in the system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many early NavIC satellites are approaching or exceeding their design life.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>IRNSS-1A<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2013) is almost defunct due to earlier atomic clock failures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>IRNSS-1B<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>IRNSS-1C<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, launched in 2014, have also crossed their 10-year mission life.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ISRO attempted to maintain the constellation through replacement missions:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>IRNSS-1H<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2017) failed to reach orbit after the heat shield did not open.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>IRNSS-1I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2018) was successfully launched later as a replacement satellite.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>NVS-02 Satellite and Its Failure<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NVS-02, the second satellite of the new-generation NavIC series, was launched in January 2025 aboard GSLV-F15 during <\/span><b>ISRO\u2019s 100th mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and placed in a highly elliptical transfer orbit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The satellite failed to move into its intended operational orbit due to an electrical malfunction that prevented the engine from igniting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A review committee found that the signal required to activate the pyro valve in the oxidiser line did not reach the engine.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This likely occurred because a connector contact disengaged, breaking the electrical circuit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Delays in Developing the User Segment<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NavIC programme has also faced criticism for delays in developing user receivers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2018 CAG report noted that although funding was approved in 2006, work began only in 2017, by which time several satellites had already been launched.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite these setbacks, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NavIC services are already used in aviation, shipping, and railways, and many modern smartphones<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> support NavIC signals alongside GPS and GLONASS.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Advancements in New-Generation NavIC Satellites<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indigenous Atomic Clocks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; A key upgrade is the development of indigenous atomic clocks by ISRO, reducing dependence on foreign systems and addressing earlier failures that affected positioning accuracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Importance of Atomic Clocks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Satellite navigation relies on precise time measurement to calculate location. Failures in atomic clocks previously disrupted accurate positioning, making this upgrade crucial for reliability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Extended Mission Life<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The new-generation satellites have an extended lifespan of 12 years, compared to 10 years for earlier satellites, ensuring longer operational stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Addition of L1 Frequency Band<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Along with existing L5 and S bands, new satellites transmit in the L1 frequency, which is widely used by global systems like GPS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improved Interoperability and Usability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; The inclusion of the L1 band enhances compatibility with global navigation systems and enables usage in low-power devices like smartphones and smartwatches, expanding NavIC\u2019s applications.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Global Satellite Navigation Systems<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are four primary global navigation satellite systems (GNSS):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US \u2013 GPS (Global Positioning System)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Russia \u2013 GLONASS<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Europe \u2013 Galileo<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">China \u2013 BeiDou<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These systems provide worldwide positioning, navigation, and timing services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Regional Navigation Systems<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some countries operate regional systems:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India \u2013 NavIC (IRNSS) with 7 satellites<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan \u2013 QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System) with 4 satellites, mainly augmenting GPS over Japan<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Orbital Configurations<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>GPS, GLONASS, Galileo<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Over 20 satellites each in Medium Earth Orbit (~20,000 km)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>BeiDou:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Over 40 satellites in mixed orbits (Medium Earth + Geosynchronous ~35,000 km)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>India and Japan systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Fewer satellites placed in Geosynchronous orbits, optimised for regional coverage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global systems ensure worldwide coverage, while regional systems like NavIC and QZSS are designed for higher accuracy within specific geographic areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/navic-satellite-atomic-clock-failure-isro-gps-10583590\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wionews.com\/science\/explained-india-s-desi-gps-navic-is-defunct-strategic-capability-lost-1773468443775\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NavIC Atomic Clock Failure has weakened India\u2019s navigation system. NavIC Atomic Clock Failure highlights satellite ageing, launch setbacks, and challenges in achieving reliable indigenous GPS capability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":93195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,6134,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-93174","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-navic-atomic-clock-failure","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93174"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93198,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93174\/revisions\/93198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}