Question map
Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4: Japan. While several countries utilize satellite data, only a few have developed and deployed their own independent or regional satellite navigation infrastructure.
Japan has developed the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), also known as Michibiki. It is a regional terrestrial augmentation system and a satellite-based navigation system that enhances the United States-operated GPS, ensuring high-precision positioning specifically for the Asia-Oceania region with a focus on Japan.
- Australia, Canada, and Israel: These nations do not possess their own independent global or regional satellite navigation constellations. They primarily rely on systems like the American GPS or the European Galileo.
- Global Context: Currently, only the US (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), China (BeiDou), and the EU (Galileo) have global systems, while India (NavIC) and Japan (QZSS) operate regional systems.
Therefore, among the given choices, Japan is the only country with its own functional satellite navigation system.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Comparative Science & Tech' question. It stems directly from studying India's NavIC (IRNSS). Once you learn that India has a 'Regional' system, the immediate next step is to ask, 'Who else has one?' The answer is Japan (QZSS). It is fair because QZSS is the only other major regional system frequently cited alongside NavIC in standard compilations.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Does Australia have its own national satellite navigation system (a domestic GNSS)?
- Statement 2: Does Canada have its own national satellite navigation system (a domestic GNSS)?
- Statement 3: Does Israel have its own national satellite navigation system (a domestic GNSS)?
- Statement 4: Does Japan have its own national satellite navigation system (a domestic GNSS)?
- Describes Australia's positioning program as maintaining a national geospatial reference system (AGRS) and providing augmentation services, not a GNSS satellite constellation.
- Specifically identifies SouthPAN as an SBAS-based service that provides augmented/corrected satellite navigation signals over the region.
- Shows examples of countries that operate their own regional satellite navigation constellations (e.g., Japan's QZSS), providing context for what a national/regional GNSS looks like.
- By contrast, Australia's published material (passage 5) describes augmentation services rather than a multi-satellite GNSS constellation.
GAGAN and NavIC are named examples showing that countries (here India) develop dedicated satellite-based augmentation or autonomous regional navigation systems.
A student could use this pattern — that countries with active national space/navigation projects announce named systems — and check whether Australia has any similarly named national GNSS or augmentation project.
Listing of specific launches (e.g., IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-11) shows that a national navigation system is implemented via launched navigation satellites.
Compare this to Australian launch/mission records or official satellite catalogs to see if Australia has launched or operates satellites identified as a national navigation constellation.
Description of India's IRS and its national remote sensing infrastructure illustrates that countries with domestic satellite systems develop and operate their own satellite networks and ground centres.
A student could check whether Australia operates an analogous domestic satellite network plus ground control infrastructure specifically for positioning/navigation.
General statement that artificial satellites are used for navigation (among other functions) highlights navigation as a common satellite application that nations may support via dedicated systems.
Use this to reason that if Australia lacked an explicit national GNSS, it might instead rely on international GNSS services (GPS, Galileo, etc.); the student could check Australian policy/technical sources for reliance versus a domestic system.
Notes that satellite communication and space research were pioneered by specific countries implies only some nations create full-fledged space/navigation systems.
A student can infer that presence of pioneers or an active space program correlates with having national satellite capabilities, and can verify where Australia sits among such countries to judge likelihood of a domestic GNSS.
Explains that nations can build autonomous regional navigation systems (example: NavIC) and related augmentation systems (GAGAN).
A student could use this pattern to ask whether Canada has announced or operates an analogous national or regional system, or instead relies on global systems like GPS.
Lists specific launches of India's IRNSS/IRNSS-1x navigation satellites, showing that countries sometimes deploy dedicated navigation satellite constellations.
One could check whether Canada has similar dedicated navigation satellite launches or a named constellation of its own.
Describes a national satellite system (IRS) and national launch capability (PSLV), illustrating the model of national space infrastructure supporting domestic satellite services.
Use this pattern to investigate whether Canada has analogous national satellite programs or launch/space infrastructure enabling a domestic GNSS.
Notes that very large countries (Canada named among examples) face geographic/time-zone complexity and therefore adopt nation-wide standard systems.
A student might infer large geographic extent can motivate having national navigation/time services and so check whether Canada has developed its own GNSS for such needs.
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Defines NavIC as an 'autonomous regional satellite navigation system' and distinguishes satellite-based augmentation (GAGAN) from an independent navigation constellation.
Use this example as a pattern: check whether Israel operates an 'autonomous' or 'regional' navigation constellation named in authoritative sources (similar to NavIC) or only uses augmentation/GPS.
Lists specific launches of navigation satellites (IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1G, IRNSS-11) showing that countries create dedicated navigation satellite series.
Compare Israel's launch records/space agency manifest for any similarly named navigation satellite series to judge if Israel has its own GNSS.
Describes a national remote sensing satellite system (IRS) becoming operational and domestic launch capability (PSLV), illustrating that nation-states build domestic satellite systems and launchers.
Use this as a rule: check whether Israel has analogous national satellite programmes and launch capabilities or relies on foreign systems for navigation.
Explains broadly how satellites are used for communications and services globally, implying multiple satellite service types (communication, remote sensing, navigation) exist.
Categorize Israel's known satellites into service types (communication, EO, navigation); absence of a 'navigation' category would argue against a domestic GNSS.
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- Explicitly names Japan's system (QZSS / Michibiki) and describes it as a regional satellite navigation and augmentation system.
- States it was developed by the Japanese government and focuses on enhancing GPS for Japan, indicating a domestic system.
- Lists Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) among existing global and regional GNSS systems.
- Places QZSS alongside other national/regional systems, supporting that Japan has its own GNSS capability.
- Describes domestic applications that utilize QZSS's augmentation service (SLAS) in Japan.
- Shows QZSS provides sub-meter augmentation services used for local navigation solutions, reinforcing its role as Japan's system.
Gives a clear example (NavIC) of a country developing an autonomous regional satellite navigation system, showing that countries create domestic GNSS solutions.
A student could use this pattern to ask whether other technologically advanced countries (like Japan) have done likewise and then check Japan-specific sources or lists of GNSS providers.
Describes India's domestic satellite system (IRS) and indigenous launch vehicle (PSLV), illustrating the link between national space capability and national satellite services.
One could infer that nations with space-launch and satellite capabilities often develop their own satellite systems, so check whether Japan has comparable launch/satellite infrastructure and then whether it includes GNSS.
Notes Japan's reputation for high-technology products and its position as a leading economy, implying technical capacity to develop space-based systems.
Combine this capability clue with a survey of national GNSS programs to assess plausibility that Japan might have pursued a domestic GNSS.
States Japan's fishing fleets operate far beyond territorial waters, implying operational needs for reliable navigation/positioning over wide areas.
A student could reason that extensive maritime activity creates demand for precise navigation, prompting inquiry into whether Japan invested in a national GNSS or relies on other systems.
Emphasises Japan's limited natural resources and reliance on maritime activity, reinforcing strategic incentives for robust navigation and satellite services.
Use this strategic-need argument to motivate checking whether Japan developed a domestic GNSS for economic/security reasons.
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- [THE VERDICT]: Standard S&T Current Affairs. Found in any decent 'Space Technology' module covering GNSS types.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Space Technology > Navigation Systems. Specifically, the distinction between Global (GNSS) and Regional (RNSS) systems.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'GNSS Club': 1. Global: GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (China). 2. Regional: NavIC (India), QZSS (Japan). 3. Augmentation (SBAS): GAGAN (India), WAAS (USA), EGNOS (EU), MSAS (Japan).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Never study Indian technology in isolation. If India has a capability (like NavIC), immediately map the global peers. The exam tests 'Where does India stand in the world?'
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NavIC (IRNSS) is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system, illustrating that countries may deploy region-limited GNSS rather than global systems.
High-yield for UPSC: understanding the distinction between regional and global navigation constellations helps answer questions on strategic autonomy, regional coverage, and civil/military uses; connects to defence, diplomacy, and infrastructure planning topics and enables evaluation of statements about a country's navigational capabilities.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Major Events > p. 58
GAGAN is a satellite-based augmentation system that augments primary GNSS signals, showing an alternative national approach to improving positioning accuracy without building a full GNSS constellation.
Important for UPSC aspirants: SBAS explains cost-effective national strategies to improve navigation services, links to civil aviation and transport policy, and helps distinguish between owning a full GNSS and operating augmentation services.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
National launch vehicles (PSLV) and domestic satellite programmes (IRS) underpin a state's ability to develop and deploy navigation or augmentation satellites.
Useful across geography, science & tech and defence sections: shows how space-launch capability supports sovereign satellite programmes, ties into questions on technological self-reliance and resource management, and helps assess feasibility of national GNSS projects.
- INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 84
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Major Events > p. 58
NavIC is described as an autonomous regional GNSS while GAGAN is described as a satellite-based augmentation system.
Distinguishing a full GNSS constellation from an augmentation service is high-yield for questions on national navigation capabilities and civil aviation. Mastering this helps answer whether a country 'has a GNSS' (a standalone positioning system) versus 'uses or hosts augmentation' (which improves positioning from another GNSS). It links to defence, aviation, and infrastructure policy questions.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
Examples are given of domestic satellite programs serving navigation (IRNSS/NavIC), remote sensing (IRS), and communications (GSAT/INSAT).
Knowing the different satellite mission classes is useful for evaluating a country's space capabilities and strategic autonomy. UPSC questions often ask which nations have indigenous capabilities for navigation versus sensing or communications; this concept helps categorize and compare national programs.
- INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 84
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Major Events > p. 58
- FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 68
Canada is cited as a large country where time differences across regions are significant, motivating standard time practices.
Understanding time-zone management is relevant because satellite navigation systems also provide precise timing; this concept helps link geography (size and time zones) with technological needs (national timing and positioning infrastructure). It is useful for questions on national infrastructure and coordination across wide territories.
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > Standard Time and Time Zones > p. 13
- FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Highways > p. 57
GAGAN is a satellite-based augmentation system and NavIC is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system.
High-yield: distinguishes augmentation systems from autonomous navigation constellations, relevant for questions on aviation safety, positioning accuracy, and civil‑space services. Connects to questions on international cooperation, regulatory frameworks, and technology classification.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
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The Orbit Trap: While GPS/GLONASS/Galileo use Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), India's NavIC uses GEO/GSO, and Japan's QZSS uses a specific 'Tundra' or 'Quasi-Zenith' orbit (Figure-8 loop) to remain directly overhead. Expect a statement on these orbital differences next.
Use 'Geography + Alliance' Logic. Australia and Canada are massive territories but are deep US allies (Five Eyes/NATO) who rely on the US GPS umbrella; they don't need the massive expense of an independent constellation. Israel is high-tech but geographically tiny; a dedicated navigation constellation is overkill (they focus on spy satellites). Japan, an island nation with high urban density ('urban canyons' needing overhead satellites) and a massive independent space program (JAXA), is the only logical candidate for a regional system.
International Relations (Indo-Pacific): Japan's QZSS and India's NavIC are critical for 'Strategic Autonomy' in the Indo-Pacific, reducing reliance on US (GPS) or Chinese (BeiDou) systems during conflicts. This links directly to Quad security dialogues.
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