A Law was proposed by NDA government where the wrong depiction of Map of India could land the violators in jail for seven years and fine up to Rs. 100 crore. This step is taken by the Government against the backdrop of instances where certain social networking sites say that J&K and Arunachal Pradesh as part of Pakistan and China.

Twitter recently showed the geographical location of Kashmir in China and Jammu in Pakistan, which was corrected later by the government of India. According to “The Geospatial Information Regulation Bill 2016” draft it is said that permission from the government is mandatory before acquiring, disseminating, publishing or distributing any geospatial information regarding India.

“No person shall depict, disseminate, publish or distribute any wrong or false topographic information of India including international boundaries through internet platforms or online services or in any electronic or physical form”.

“Whoever acquired any geospatial information of India in contravention of the law shall be punished with a fine ranging from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 100 crore and/or imprisonment for a period up to seven years,” according to the draft Bill.

“Any person who wants to acquire, disseminate, publish or distribute any geospatial information of India, may make an application along with requisite fees to the Authority for security vetting of such geospatial information and licence thereof to acquire, disseminate, publish or distribute such Geospatial Information in any electronic or physical form,” the draft bill says.

Licensee shall be supplied with the security vetted Geospatial information within a period mutually agreed upon, based on the quantum and nature of subject on best efforts.

“Licensee shall display the insignia of the clearance of the Security Vetting Authority on the security vetted geospatial information by appropriate means such as water- marking or licence as relevant while disseminating or distributing of such geospatial information,” the draft bill says.