GIS in India - Leading from the top down

Many of the ministerial and government leaders who address the opening session of the Map World Forum in Hyderabad have a fundamental understanding of using GIS in helping to improve the economic development process in the country. The vision is being developed from the top down in India; from the Department of Science and Technology; from the head of the Space Agency down to the local level. They are affecting the way in which infrastructure projects are planned; and they are looking to democratize data so long as certain security constraints are in place. But to a large extent these decision makers are extremely tuned into the needs of the country and the limitations of their capacity to affect change. A recurring theme is that there is a lack of capacity, i.e. trained GIS professionals, and that the domestic need for GIS experts will far outstrip some of the expertise being exported to Malaysia, for example, in the coming years. Kipal Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India said, "Our education has not been able to keep pace with our needs…Present day teaching is totally inadequate. We must come together to create the manpower."