Maarg Manthan · Topic 20.11

PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Government Portals, Apps and Digital Platforms · Topic 20.11

The PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform is the GIS-based digital system behind the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched on 13 October 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It puts data from central ministries and states on a single geospatial map, so that planners can see roads, railways, ports, power lines, pipelines, forests and land use together before approving a project. It was developed with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) and is run by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. As reported in 2026, it carries more than 1,800 data layers from about 58 central ministries and all states and Union Territories.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Government Portals, Apps and Digital Platforms

At a Glance

Launched 13 October 2021, with the master plan
Nature GIS-based geospatial planning platform
Technical partner BISAG-N, Gandhinagar
Run by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Data layers More than 1,800 (as reported)
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Government Portals, Apps and Digital Platforms

Where Does It Fit?

This topic closes the macro. The planning idea of the master plan appears under the first topic of the previous macro, and this page describes the technology. It is also the link between the digital platforms of this macro and the infrastructure missions. Previous topic: PARIVESH Portal (Environmental Clearances). Next topic: India’s Missile Systems in the News (Agni-V, Agni-Prime, BrahMos, K-Series Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles).

How Does the Digital Platform Work?

Feature	Detail
Single map	All layers of infrastructure and land use are shown on one map, with a base of satellite and survey data
Data layers	More than 1,800 layers, including existing and planned roads, railways, ports, airports, power and telecom lines, pipelines, forests, protected areas, land parcels and administrative boundaries
Space data	Satellite images from ISRO and other sources help monitor project progress and land use
Planning tools	Tools to check the best route, find gaps in connectivity, check utilities along a path and see which social facilities lie near a project
Access	Ministries and state agencies use it through secure logins, with defined rights over their own data
Apps and portals	Sector tools and portals use the same base, including for right of way and telecom

Who Builds and Uses It?

BISAG-N: Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics in Gandhinagar is a national institute of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that built the platform
Users: central ministries and departments, state governments, and the Network Planning Group that evaluates large projects
Project checks: projects of Rs 500 crore and above are checked on the platform for fit with the master plan, as in Gati Shakti National Master Plan (Cross-Sectoral Infrastructure)
Coverage: about 58 central ministries and departments and all 36 states and Union Territories are on the platform, as reported
State master plans: states have built their own matching platforms and plans, linked to the national one
Social sector use: the platform has been extended to plan schools, hospitals and other social infrastructure, not only transport
Evaluation numbers: as reported in August 2026, the Network Planning Group had evaluated about 396 projects worth about Rs 18.66 lakh crore. The numbers change often
Anniversary: the master plan and its platform completed five years on 13 October 2026

What Else Should You Remember?

Full form and alias: The platform is also called the PM GatiShakti portal or National Master Plan portal, and BISAG-N stands for Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics
Latest status: the platform is in active use for project evaluation and for planning by states, and data layers are being added. Check DPIIT for the latest count of layers and projects
Difference from the master plan: the master plan is the planning framework of institutions and principles, while the digital platform is the technical system it runs on
Link with logistics: the platform supports the National Logistics Policy, which aims for lower logistics costs, as in National Logistics Policy
Link with clearances: faster environmental clearance on PARIVESH complements the planning stage on this platform, as in PARIVESH Portal (Environmental Clearances)
Link with land records: land parcel data and digital land records help check land before acquisition, and this cuts delay
Benefit: projects can avoid conflicts such as a road alignment crossing a planned rail line or a forest area
Limits: data: the platform is only as good as the data entered, and old or missing layers reduce its value
Limits: use: a clean planning check does not remove delays in funding, land acquisition and construction
Way forward: regular updates of data, open access for citizens where safe, outcome tracking of projects and training of state staff

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 13 October 2021 with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
Developer: BISAG-N, under MeitY
Nodal department: DPIIT
Nature: GIS-based, more than 1,800 data layers
Common errors: giving ISRO or the National Informatics Centre as the developer, or treating the platform as a funding scheme

As an analytical point, the platform is a strong example of data-based planning. It will cut delay only if every agency keeps its data current and if planning clearance leads to faster land acquisition and work on the ground.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Technology GIS and space data in planning
Facts Developer and scale
Infrastructure Better coordination

What Came Next?

The next macro covers defence and security current affairs. Next topic: India’s Missile Systems in the News (Agni-V, Agni-Prime, BrahMos, K-Series Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles).

Key People and Terms

GIS Geographic information system
BISAG-N Space applications and geo-informatics institute
Data layer One set of map data
Geospatial Related to location on Earth
Right of way Legal path for a line or road
NPG Network Planning Group

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 13 October 2021.
Built with BISAG-N.
More than 1,800 data layers.
Run by DPIIT.
NPG checks projects of Rs 500 crore and above.

Do Not Confuse With

PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform and the master plan Technical system versus planning framework
BISAG-N and ISRO A MeitY institute versus the space agency
GIS and GPS Mapping and analysis versus satellite positioning

Memory Hook

One map, many layers, planners see the whole before they lay.

Mains Angle

Questions ask how GIS and space technology improve infrastructure planning. These points give a balanced frame.

Benefits Fewer conflicts, faster approvals, better routes
Limits Data quality, land and funds
Way forward Updated data, state capacity, outcome tracking

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Explain how the PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform uses geospatial technology to improve infrastructure planning, and discuss its limitations.”

How to Answer

Context Silos and delays.
Platform Layers and tools.
Gains Fewer conflicts.
Limits Data and execution.
Way Updates and tracking.

GS Relevance

Prelims: developer, nature, data layers, use. GS Paper 3: infrastructure planning, use of space technology and GIS, logistics. GS Paper 2: e-governance and coordination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform?

The PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform is the GIS-based system behind the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched on 13 October 2021. It shows data from central ministries and states on one geospatial map, so that infrastructure, forests, land and utilities can be checked together before projects are planned or approved.

Who developed the PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform?

The platform was developed with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) in Gandhinagar, a national institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is the nodal department that runs it.

How many data layers are on the PM Gati Shakti platform?

As reported in 2026, the platform carries more than 1,800 data layers from about 58 central ministries and departments and all states and Union Territories. The layers cover roads, railways, ports, power, telecom, pipelines, forests, land parcels and boundaries. The count grows as new data is added, so the latest figure should be checked.

Who uses the PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform?

Central ministries, state governments and the Network Planning Group use the platform. The Network Planning Group checks large projects of Rs 500 crore and above against the master plan, and states have built matching state master plans. The platform is also used to plan social facilities such as schools and hospitals.

What is the latest status of the PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform?

The platform is in active use and completed five years with the master plan on 13 October 2026. As reported in August 2026, the Network Planning Group had evaluated about 396 projects worth about Rs 18.66 lakh crore. Other reports give higher counts, so the latest numbers should be checked with the department.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform was developed with BISAG-N.

True

It is an institute under MeitY.

2 The platform was launched in October 2021.