ACEN: India’s First Private Navigation Centre Inaugurated by ISRO Chief for Self-Reliance in NavIC

India has taken a significant step toward self-reliance in high-tech navigation systems with the inauguration of the Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation (ACEN) in Thiruvananthapuram. This centre is India’s first private-sector navigation innovation hub, started by Ananth Technologies.
The centre was inaugurated by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.

ACEN: India’s First Private Navigation Centre Inaugurated by ISRO Chief for Self-Reliance in NavIC

Strategic Importance of ACEN

Navigation technology is crucial for the success of various modern platforms, including missiles, aircraft, ships, and satellites. India’s past reliance on foreign Global Positioning Systems (GPS) posed a national security risk, particularly during conflicts.

ACEN aims to solve this problem by focusing on:

1. Indigenous Development: Creating navigation sensors and related technologies entirely within India.
2. AI Integration: Developing AI-based navigation fusion technology.
3. MRO Work: Performing complete Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) work inside India, eliminating costly delays caused by sending units abroad for repair.
4. NavIC Utilization: Better leveraging India’s own regional satellite navigation system, NavIC.

This shift is crucial for strengthening defence readiness, saving money, and achieving technological independence.

ACEN and India’s National Vision

The establishment of ACEN strongly supports two major Indian government initiatives:

• Vision 2035: This vision aims to make India fully capable in all areas of navigation (defence, space, and civilian sectors). ACEN encourages essential teamwork between industry, scientists, universities, and defence/space agencies.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat: By reducing imports and promoting local production of high-precision navigation systems, ACEN helps India build globally competitive and trusted navigation technology by 2035.

About Ananth Technologies

Ananth Technologies, founded in 1992, has been a major contributor to key ISRO and DRDO missions. The company is known for its work in making precision sensors, airworthiness certifications, and satellite/launch vehicle integration.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan emphasized that such private-sector initiatives are essential to speed up India’s progress and help the nation achieve advanced technological leadership by 2047.

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Question & Answer

Q1. What is the full form of ACEN, India’s first private-sector navigation centre?
A) Advanced Centre for Electronics and Networking
B) Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation
C) Aviation Central Engineering Node
D) Advanced Communication and Earth Network
Answer: B) Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation
Explanation: ACEN stands for Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation, inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram.

Q2. Which organization’s Chairman inaugurated the Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation (ACEN)?
A) DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)
B) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
C) HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)
D) DST (Department of Science and Technology)
Answer: B) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)
Explanation: The centre was inaugurated by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.

Q3. ACEN is India’s first private-sector innovation hub dedicated to which field?
A) Electric Vehicle Battery Technology
B) Quantum Computing
C) High-Tech Navigation Systems
D) Robotics in Manufacturing
Answer: C) High-Tech Navigation Systems
Explanation: ACEN is the first private-sector hub in India focused on the indigenous development of high-tech navigation sensors and related technologies.

Q4. One of the main objectives of ACEN is to perform MRO work inside India. What does MRO stand for in this context?
A) Manufacturing, Research, and Operations
B) Modernization, Restoration, and Outsourcing
C) Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul
D) Military Readiness Operations
Answer: C) Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul
Explanation: MRO stands for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul. Performing this work domestically is critical to reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers for defence systems.

Q5. The push for indigenous navigation technology aligns ACEN with India’s existing regional satellite navigation system, which is known as:
A) GPS
B) GLONASS
C) Galileo
D) NavIC
Answer: D) NavIC
Explanation: ACEN aims to enhance the use of India’s own regional navigation system, NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).

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