The Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N in its later national avatar; originally BISAG) is a state government agency engaged in the application of space technology and geo-informatics for planning, governance and development. Established under the Government of Gujarat, the institute is named after the twelfth-century Indian mathematician and astronomer Bhaskaracharya, and operates from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India.
The institute provides services in satellite-based remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), satellite communication and decision support systems for various central and state government departments, and has played a notable role in extending geospatial tools to district- and village-level planning.
| Name | Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics |
|---|---|
| Type | Government agency / autonomous institute |
| Parent government | Government of Gujarat (originally); later notified as a national centre under the Government of India |
| Headquarters | Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India |
| Domain | Space applications, remote sensing, GIS, satellite communication |
| Named after | Bhaskaracharya (Bhaskara II) |
Gujarat has historically been associated with India's space programme through institutions such as the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad and the Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Building on this base, the state established a dedicated unit to translate space-based inputs into administrative and developmental tools. BISAG grew out of earlier state-level remote sensing efforts and was reorganised as an institute focused on operationalising satellite data for Gujarat's planning and line departments.
The institute's work spans several broad areas:
In recognition of its work, the institute was reconstituted as BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics) and brought under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India as an autonomous scientific society. In this expanded role it supports geospatial requirements of central ministries and other state governments, in addition to its continuing engagements within Gujarat.
BISAG/BISAG-N is often cited as an example of a state-level institution successfully integrating remote sensing and GIS into routine administration. Its outputs have been used in programmes related to land records modernisation, watershed development, coastal management, the PM Gati Shakti national master plan for infrastructure planning, and various e-governance initiatives. The institute also contributes to public-information services through educational satellite broadcasts.