The geospatial sector has grown sizeably in the past two decades. But its future seems bleak without enough trained personnel to fill new positions. Geospatial education may need to be revamped with flexibility in curricula design, enhancement of academia-industry interaction, with emphasis on a lifelong learning process to meet this challenge.

Geological processes in the Himalaya that bring natural catastrophes are continuously in motion. Though the natural processes can never be completely controlled the impact can be minimised through sustainable use of natural resources and effective planning in tune with the terrain and geo-location.

India's Smart Cities Mission envisages some developments in terms of infrastructure in several urban centres. However, it ignores to address the problem of land acquisition and land management, without which all change would seem superfluous.

In India, urbanisation is increasing at faster rate than necessary infrastructural development. Cities are populated beyond its capacity. Upgradation of Delhi NCR as a smart city may help in sustainable land-use and development.

Fluctuation in demand supply equilibrium and inaction of OPEC countries is affecting global oil prices though India’s under-recovery refineries are benefitting from the fall in crude oil price.

Application of biotechnology in agriculture and husbandry might be the next step to food security in India. Proper infrastructure, technology and market systems are crucial to materialise.

Being a land with a unique climatic regime, including two monsoon seasons, two cyclone seasons, hot and cold weather seasons, cold waves and fog, India is vulnerable to several extreme weather events. A spatio-temporal analysis of these weather extremes is extremely essential to help understand India’s vulnerability potential, and hence minimise the adverse impacts on the population.

The advancement in machine and ship design has accompanied stringent regulations that pose major hurdles for the burgeoning economies of ports. These bottlenecks can hamper the growth of the Indian shipping sector.

A Case for Private Participation Economic liberalisation has contributed to huge growth in maritime trade. The government has already responded to the phenomenon by initiating public-private partnership for the development of existing, and the construction of new ports.

Demand for water in India is estimated to reach 1500 billion cubic m by 2030. Against this India’s current water supply is approximately 740 billion cubic m as a result of which most river basins could face a severe deficit by then.