India's satellite navigation system, Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), is currently not fully operational, raising serious concerns among experts about its ability to support national security and strategic needs. The issue intensified after the last functioning atomic clock aboard IRNSS-1F failed on March 10, leaving only three satellites capable of delivering position, navigation, and timing services, whereas at least four are required for proper functioning.

Ananya Ray, a former ISRO scientist, explained that systems like NavIC provide both civilian and restricted military signals, with the latter offering much higher accuracy. She warned that relying on foreign navigation systems could be risky, especially during conflicts, as signals could be manipulated or disrupted, potentially leading to critical errors in positioning.

India initiated the NavIC program after the Kargil War in 1999, when access to foreign GPS data was denied. The first generation of satellites, launched between 2013 and 2018, soon encountered repeated failures in their atomic clocks, which are essential for precise navigation. In the case of IRNSS-1F, all onboard clocks have stopped functioning despite built-in redundancy systems.

Efforts to replace faulty satellites have also faced setbacks. A 2017 mission to deploy IRNSS-1H failed, and although the newer NVS-01 satellite was successfully launched in 2023, the 2025 launch of NVS-02 was unsuccessful, delaying subsequent missions. As a result, only three satellites—IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1L, and NVS-01—are currently operational.

Former government secretary EAS Sarma criticized the focus on other high-profile missions, suggesting that attention may have shifted away from NavIC. He emphasized that India must prioritize developing its own navigation system for strategic independence rather than depending on foreign alternatives.