The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) – is a constituent unit of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Space, Govt. of India. Since its establishment in 1966, IIRS is a key player for training and capacity building in geospatial technology and its applications through training, education and research in Southeast Asia. The training, education and capacity building programmes of the Institute are designed to meet the requirements of Professionals at working levels, fresh graduates, researchers, academia, and decision makers. IIRS is also one of the most sought after Institute for conducting specially designed courses for the officers from Central and State Government Ministries and stakeholder departments for the effective utilization of Earth Observation (EO) data. IIRS is also empaneled under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India providing short term regular and special courses to international participants from ITEC member countries since 2001. The M.Tech. course in ‘Remote Sensing & GIS’, being offered by the institute in collaboration with the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, is approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

To widen its outreach, IIRS has started live and interactive Distance Learning Programme (DLP) since 2007. IIRS has also launched e-learning course on Remote Sensing and Geo-information Science since August, 2014.

The Institute has a strong, multi-disciplinary and solution-oriented research agenda that focuses on developing improved methods/ techniques for processing, visualization and dissemination of EO data & Geo-information for various societal applications and better understanding of Earth’s system processes. Currently, Microwave, hyperspectral and high-resolution EO data processing and their applications are some of the prime research areas. State-of-the-art laboratory and field-based instrumentation and observatories network help meeting the research goals and objectives.

IIRS hosts headquarters of Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP), affiliated to the United Nations and provides support in conducting the Remote Sensing and GIS training and education programmes. IIRS also plays a key role in the activities of Indian Society of Remote Sensing (ISRS), which is one of the largest non-governmental Scientific Societies in the country.