The "Standard Positioning System" refers to the common GPS system that is available globally and used by millions of people for various purposes. It provides positioning and navigation services with an accuracy level of around 5 to 10 meters.

On the other hand, the "Precision Positioning System" encompasses more advanced technologies that offer increased accuracy and reliability. It can provide positioning and navigation with centimeter-level accuracy, which is suitable for critical applications such as in aviation, precision agriculture, surveying, and autonomous vehicles.

India perceives several advantages from its ambitious Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) program, also known as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), which employs just seven satellites. Some of the advantages include:

1. Regional Autonomy: By having its indigenous navigation system, India reduces its dependence on foreign systems like GPS or GLONASS, ensuring regional autonomy and strategic control over crucial services.

2. Enhanced Accuracy: While the standard GPS provides accuracy within a few meters, IRNSS aims to achieve accuracy within a few centimeters. This increased precision facilitates more efficient use in sectors like transportation, mapping, and disaster management.

3. Improved Signal Availability: With seven satellites in the IRNSS constellation, India's coverage and signal availability are more reliable. It ensures continuous positioning and navigation services even in challenging environments like dense urban areas or deep canyons.

4. Security and Defense Applications: Having its navigation system enhances national security as it reduces the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats or denial of service. IRNSS can also be leveraged for military applications, including missile guidance and target tracking.

5. Economic Opportunities: By having its navigation system, India can leverage commercial opportunities by providing precise positioning and navigation services to various sectors. It can create new industries, generate employment, and contribute to the country's economic growth.

Overall, while the standard positioning system offers reliable navigation services, the precision positioning system like IRNSS can offer more accurate and robust solutions for critical applications, contributing to strategic autonomy, national security, and economic development.

Understanding Standard Positioning System (SPS) and Precision Positioning System (PPS) in the GPS era:

Standard Positioning System (SPS) refers to the basic GPS service available to everyone for free. It utilizes a constellation of satellites broadcasting signals to receivers on Earth, enabling them to determine their location, altitude, and time. SPS offers an accuracy of approximately 15 meters horizontally and 22 meters vertically.

Precision Positioning System (PPS), also known as Differential GPS (DGPS), provides significantly improved accuracy compared to SPS. PPS utilizes ground stations to transmit corrections to GPS receivers, accounting for atmospheric and other errors. This enhanced service achieves an accuracy of sub-meter level or even centimeter-level in some applications.

In essence, the difference lies in the level of accuracy achieved. SPS provides basic positioning for general navigation, while PPS delivers highly precise positioning for applications requiring greater accuracy, like surveying, mapping, and precision agriculture.

India's IRNSS Programme: Advantages with Seven Satellites

India's ambitious Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NAVIC, aims to establish an independent regional navigation system. Though employing only seven satellites, it provides a range of advantages to India:

1. Strategic Independence: Unlike relying on GPS controlled by the United States, IRNSS provides India with an independent navigation system. This ensures navigational integrity even during potential disruptions to foreign satellite systems.

2. Enhanced Accuracy and Coverage: IRNSS offers improved accuracy and coverage specifically for the Indian region. Its focus on regional needs enables a more accurate positioning solution within the Indian subcontinent.

3. Civilian and Military Applications: IRNSS caters to diverse applications, including navigation, disaster management, timing, and mapping. It benefits both civilian and military sectors, contributing to India's economic growth and national security.

4. Cost-Effective Solution: IRNSS has been a relatively cost-effective project, considering the advantages it offers. Its lower operational costs compared to relying solely on foreign systems contribute to economic efficiency.

5. Global Contribution: Though primarily focused on India, IRNSS contributes to the global navigation system landscape by offering an independent and accurate regional service.

However, IRNSS has some limitations:

• It covers only the Indian region and surrounding areas.
• The accuracy is slightly lower than GPS, particularly outside the core coverage area.

Despite these limitations, IRNSS is a significant achievement for India, showcasing its technological advancements and ensuring navigational independence. Its contribution to strategic, economic, and civilian applications makes it a valuable asset for the nation's future.

Standard Positioning System (SPS) and Precision Positioning System (PPS)

In the GPS (Global Positioning System) era, the Standard Positioning System (SPS) and Precision Positioning System (PPS) refer to two levels of GPS services provided by the US Department of Defense.

1. Standard Positioning System (SPS): This is a free, open-service GPS signal available to anyone with a GPS receiver. SPS provides a horizontal accuracy of around 5-10 meters (16-33 feet) and is intended for civilian use. It is a single-frequency system, transmitting on the L1 frequency (1575.42 MHz).
2. Precision Positioning System (PPS): This is a restricted, accurate GPS signal available only to authorized users, primarily military and government agencies. PPS provides a horizontal accuracy of around 1-2 meters (3-6 feet) and is intended for high-precision applications. It is a dual-frequency system, transmitting on both L1 and L2 frequencies (1227.60 MHz).

India's IRNSS Programme

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is an independent, satellite-based navigation system developed by India to provide accurate positioning, navigation, and timing services over the Indian subcontinent. With only seven satellites in its constellation, IRNSS offers several advantages:

Advantages of IRNSS:

1. Autonomy: IRNSS provides India with an independent navigation system, reducing dependence on foreign systems like GPS, GLONASS (Russia), or Galileo (Europe).
2. Improved accuracy: IRNSS offers a higher accuracy than GPS over the Indian subcontinent, with a horizontal accuracy of around 10-20 meters (33-66 feet) for civilian use.
3. Regional coverage: IRNSS provides accurate positioning and navigation services over a region covering India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.
4. Augmented service availability: IRNSS ensures continuous availability of services, even in cases where GPS signals may be degraded or unavailable due to various factors like satellite geometry, ionospheric delays, or signal jamming.
5. Multi-frequency system: IRNSS transmits signals on three frequencies (L5, L1, and S-band), which helps to mitigate ionospheric delays and improve accuracy.
6. National security: IRNSS provides a secure and reliable navigation system for India's military and strategic applications.
7. Economic benefits: IRNSS can support various industries like aviation, maritime, transportation, and agriculture, contributing to India's economic growth.
8. Scientific research: IRNSS can be used for scientific research, such as studying the Earth's atmosphere, monitoring natural disasters, and analyzing climate change.

In summary, India's IRNSS programme, with its seven satellites, offers a robust, independent, and accurate navigation system, providing various benefits for the country's national security, economy, and scientific research.