Gangtok, Sikkim
June 25, 2026
Strategic Electronics Group, C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram achieved a landmark milestone with the formal handover of its indigenously developed Autonomous Bathymetry Survey Vessel (ABSV) and the Advanced Glacial Lake Profiling (AGLP) Technology Suite to the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of Sikkim, on June 25th, 2026 at the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology (SSCST), Gangtok, Sikkim. The ceremony was presided over by Shri Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, Hon'ble Minister for Science & Technology, Government of Sikkim, as Chief Guest, in the presence of senior officials from MeitY, C-DAC, DST Sikkim, and members of the Project Review & Steering Group (PRSG).
The technology suite transferred to DST, Sikkim, comprises three indigenously developed assets:
- Autonomous Bathymetry Survey Vessel (ABSV): An unmanned surface vessel for precision depth mapping and 3D volumetric profiling of glacial lakes at altitudes exceeding 4,000 metres above mean sea level, operable in sub-zero conditions without human presence on the lake surface.
- Advanced Glacial Lake Profiling (AGLP) Software: An AI-powered platform for bathymetric data analysis, 3D lake modelling, volumetric estimation, GLOF risk stratification, and integration with early warning systems.
- NiyanthriQ Survey Planning & Control Software: An indigenous mission planning and real-time control interface for autonomous ABSV survey operations.
Prior to the handover ceremony, a stakeholder demonstration of the ABSV and AGLP Software was conducted at a high-altitude glacial lake in Sikkim, providing domain experts, government officials, and PRSG members with a first-hand view of the vessel's autonomous navigation, real-time sonar data acquisition, and in-situ bathymetric survey capabilities. The demonstration validated the system's operational readiness in actual glacial field conditions, reinforcing its suitability for independent deployment by DST, Sikkim.
The handover was accompanied by a Workshop on Autonomous Glacial Lake Profiling Technologies that brought together scientists, engineers, policymakers, and domain experts to deliberate on autonomous survey methodologies, IoT-driven GLOF early warning systems, and high-altitude bathymetry. The workshop featured technical presentations and a panel discussion on GLOF preparedness and field perspectives, and concluded with a hands-on training session by C-DAC on the NiyanthriQ and AGLP Software platforms, equipping DST Sikkim's team for independent operational deployment.
With this transfer, Sikkim becomes the first state in India to independently operate indigenous end-to-end autonomous glacial lake profiling and risk assessment capability. The system has been successfully field-validated through high-altitude surveys above 4,500 metres AMSL across multiple Himalayan glacial lakes, with survey reports approvedby the stakeholders.
The ABSV-AGLP programme was funded by MeitY, Government of India, with cost contribution from SSCST, Government of Sikkim, as the user agency. The project was jointly executed byStrategic Electronics Group (SEG) and Cognitive Industrial Automation Group (CIAG) of C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram. The system represents years of dedicated R&D by C-DAC's scientists to deliver a field-proven, industry-grade indigenous platform in service of India's Himalayan communities.
