# How exposed is India to foreign technology, from satellites and cloud to arms?

URL: https://upsc.help/current-affairs/2026-10-22/india-foreign-tech-exposure-explainer/
Date: 22 October 2026 (2026-10-22)
Source: The Hindu, Page 10
UPSC papers: GS3, GS2
Publisher: upsc.help (Pratidin), free and open-source UPSC Civil Services current affairs. Not affiliated with UPSC. Every fact was checked against the source reports by a separate review before publishing.

**In one line:** Ukraine's loss of Starshield access prompted a Hindu explainer mapping India's dependence on foreign-controlled technology in satellites, navigation, cloud, payments and defence.

In mid-October 2026 Ukrainian defence officials said they had lost access to satellite communications on Starshield, the government version of SpaceX's Starlink network, which their forces use to guide drones. Elon Musk denied SpaceX's involvement, saying Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Taking this as its cue, a Hindu explainer on 22 October 2026 asked how exposed India is to foreign-controlled technology. It argues that a single company, not a government, can restrict a critical service, and it separates three risks: deliberate restriction, platform-level disruption such as the 2024 CrowdStrike faulty update that hit Indian airlines, airports and securities firms, and the slow erosion of home-grown capability.

On satellites, India has licensed three broadband providers: Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb's Indian arm and Jio Satellite Communications, whose satellites are controlled by Luxembourg-based SES. According to the explainer, none had security clearance to offer commercial broadband as of 16 October. On navigation, Minister of State Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha in July 2026 that only three NavIC satellites (IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I and NVS-01) were providing signals, while at least four are needed for standalone positioning; timing still works. On cloud, AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud serve many Indian firms and public bodies, and the government's MeghRaj cloud uses empanelled private providers, including foreign ones. On payments, UPI is run by NPCI, but leading apps such as PhonePe (majority-owned by Walmart) and Google Pay are foreign-controlled.

Defence is where India has learnt most. After the 1998 nuclear tests, US sanctions held up helicopter engines HAL had ordered, and HAL turned to a French supplier. SIPRI data released in March 2026 show India was the second-largest arms importer in 2021-25 with 8.2% of global imports, behind Ukraine, and that Russia's share of India's imports fell to 40% from 70% in 2011-15. The explainer argues that satellite broadband and cloud have not yet been diversified in the same way. It suggests completing the NavIC constellation, building domestic cloud capacity including MeghRaj, applying post-1998 procurement lessons to new domains, and backing indigenous platforms such as C-DAC's Bharat Operating System Solutions.

## Prelims facts

- Only three NavIC satellites (IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I, NVS-01) were providing signals in July 2026; at least four are needed for standalone positioning.
- India's licensed satellite broadband providers are Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb's Indian arm and Jio Satellite Communications, all using foreign-controlled constellations.
- SIPRI (March 2026): India was the second-largest arms importer in 2021-25 with 8.2% of global imports; Russia supplied 40% of India's imports, down from 70% in 2011-15.
- UPI is run by NPCI, but leading UPI apps such as PhonePe (Walmart majority-owned) and Google Pay are foreign-controlled.

## Quick recall

- **How many NavIC satellites were providing signals in July 2026?** Three: IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I and NVS-01.
- **Minimum satellites needed for standalone positioning?** Four.
- **What is Starshield?** SpaceX's government and military version of Starlink, launched in 2022.
- **India's three licensed satellite broadband providers?** Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb's Indian arm and Jio Satellite Communications.
- **India's rank and share in global arms imports, 2021-25 (SIPRI)?** Second, with 8.2%, behind Ukraine (9.7%).
- **Russia's share of India's arms imports, 2021-25?** 40%, down from 51% in 2016-20 and 70% in 2011-15.
- **Who runs UPI's infrastructure?** The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- **Which body developed Bharat Operating System Solutions (BOSS)?** C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).

## Prelims practice question

Why can India's NavIC system not provide standalone positioning services as of 2026?

(a) It has been merged with the US GPS
(b) Fewer than the minimum four satellites needed are providing signals
(c) Its signals are restricted to military users
(d) Its ground stations have been shut for upgrades

Answer: (b) Fewer than the minimum four satellites needed are providing signals. In July 2026 the government told the Lok Sabha that only three NavIC satellites were providing signals, while a minimum of four is needed for standalone positioning. Its timing service still works.

## UPSC previous-year questions this connects to

- UPSC Prelims 2018, Prelims: With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements : 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) None (https://upsc.help/pyq/prelims/#q350)
- UPSC Mains 2015, GS3: Discuss the advantage and security implication of cloud hosting of servers vis-a-vis in house machine based hosting for government business. (https://upsc.help/pyq/q351-advantage-security-implication-cloud-hosting-servers-vis-a-vis/)
  How to use this story in the answer: Use current facts to show that the security implication of cloud hosting now includes dependence on a few foreign providers and their outages.
- UPSC Mains 2016, GS3: Discuss India's achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development? (https://upsc.help/pyq/q060-india-s-achievements-field-space-science-technology/)
  How to use this story in the answer: Balance space achievements with the need to sustain them, using NavIC's 2026 shortfall as a caution.

## Mains practice question

India's reliance on foreign-controlled technology extends from defence equipment to satellites and cloud services. Discuss the risks this creates and the steps needed to reduce them. (250 words)

### Model answer

Ukraine's loss of Starshield satellite access in October 2026 showed that whoever controls a network can switch it off. India's exposure spans several critical layers.

## Where India is exposed
- **Satellite broadband:** licensed providers Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb's Indian arm and Jio Satellite Communications all rely on foreign-controlled constellations.
- **Navigation:** only three NavIC satellites were working in July 2026; four are needed for standalone positioning, so users rely on GPS.
- **Cloud:** AWS, Azure and Google Cloud dominate; even the government's MeghRaj cloud uses empanelled private providers.
- **Defence:** India was the second-largest arms importer in 2021-25 (8.2% of global imports, SIPRI).

## Kinds of risk
- **Deliberate restriction:** services or spares withheld, as when 1998 sanctions held up HAL's engine order.
- **Platform disruption:** the 2024 CrowdStrike update disrupted Indian airlines and securities firms.
- **Slow erosion:** NavIC's satellite losses.

## Steps to reduce exposure
- **Complete NavIC:** launch NVS-03, NVS-04 and NVS-05 on time.
- **Diversify suppliers:** as defence did, cutting Russia's share of imports from 70% in 2011-15 to 40% in 2021-25.
- **Own the core rails:** UPI under NPCI is a model for digital public infrastructure.
- **Domestic cloud and software:** strengthen MeghRaj and indigenous platforms like C-DAC's BOSS.
- **Security clearance and localisation rules** for satellite and cloud providers serving critical sectors.

The goal is not autarky but resilience: no single foreign supplier should be able to switch off a critical Indian service.

## The basics

## Why this matters

In mid-October 2026, Ukraine said it had lost access to satellite communications on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink network, in the middle of a war. Whoever controlled the switch, the lesson was plain: a country that depends on someone else's network can be cut off. A Hindu explainer on 22 October asked how exposed India is to the same risk, across satellites, navigation, cloud computing, payments and weapons.

## Five layers of dependence

## Navigation: the NavIC gap

NavIC, India's regional navigation system, needs at least four working satellites to give a position on its own. In July 2026 the government told the Lok Sabha that only three were working, so NavIC can provide timing but not standalone positioning.

## Defence: diversified, but still import-heavy

The SIPRI arms transfer data show India has reduced its reliance on Russia while staying a top importer.

## Three kinds of risk

The explainer separates three risks. Deliberate restriction is when a company or government cuts a service, as Ukraine experienced with Satellite internet. Platform disruption is an accident with wide effects, like the 2024 CrowdStrike faulty update that hit Indian airlines, airports and securities firms. Slow erosion is when a home-grown system decays, as with NavIC. In each case, the answer is a mix of domestic capacity and diversified suppliers, including in Cloud computing.

## Sources

- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/what-is-starshield-and-who-limited-ukraines-access-to-it
- https://www.businesstoday.in/amp/india/story/only-three-satellites-left-active-centre-acknowledges-navic-standalone-navigation-gap-546285-2026-07-30
- https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/india-remains-worlds-second-biggest-arms-importer-after-ukraine-sipri-report-3925387
- https://www.legacyias.com/the-hindu-upsc-news-analysis-for-22-october-2026/
- https://ramanacademy.in/daily-current-affairs/22-october-2026