News Tamil Nadu

Dravidian Model Journalism: Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman Announces National “Geospatial” Mission In Budget, Puthiya Thalaimurai Calls It “JIO Space Mission”

February 3, 2025
The Commune

Netizens mocked and trolled the Dravidian media outlet, Puthiyathalaimurai News, after it mistakenly interpreted Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech. The budget included a ₹20,000-crore allocation to promote research, AI expansion, and geospatial initiatives for modernization. However, the news outlet misread “geospatial” as “JIO Space,” leading to widespread ridicule on social media for their misunderstanding and lack of accuracy in reporting.

In the Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the introduction of the National Geospatial Mission. This mission aims to modernize land records and improve urban planning throughout India. It will build on the existing PM Gati Shakti framework to establish core geospatial infrastructure and data, enhancing the design and implementation of infrastructure projects.

Geospatial data refers to information tied to specific locations on the Earth’s surface. The National Geospatial Mission is expected to have a significant impact on sectors such as urban development and land management. This announcement comes at a time when the global geospatial market is projected to grow substantially, potentially reaching $1,064 million by 2030.

The government’s goal is to create a comprehensive geospatial database to streamline land reform processes, making them more efficient and transparent. This initiative is set to benefit not just government bodies but also private sector players, including geospatial and drone companies, which are likely to experience increased demand for their services.

Sitharaman highlighted that the mission aligns with the government’s focus on leveraging technology to improve governance and service delivery. The integration of geospatial data into planning processes is expected to enable more informed decision-making, supporting sustainable urban development. India is increasingly utilizing geospatial technologies and advancements in the space sector to drive its development goals. These technologies are critical in addressing challenges related to resource management, climate change, national security, and public health.

Against this backdrop, on 1 February 2025, the Dravidian media outlet Puthiyathalaimurai News allegedly shared a now-deleted social media post claiming, “Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a national ‘JIOSpace Mission’ for the development of the space sector in the budget.” This blunder quickly attracted widespread trolling from netizens.

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