The objectives of the IRS-P5 mission were directed at geo-engineering (mapping) applications, calling for high-resolution panchromatic imagery and stereoscopic imagery with high pointing accuracies. The spacecraft featured two high-resolution panchromatic cameras that could be used for in-flight stereo imaging.

The high resolution of the data (2.5 m GSD) was traded for multispectral capability and smaller area coverage, with a swath width of 30 km. The data products were intended to be used in DTM (Digital Terrain Model)/DEM (Digital Elevation Model) generation in such applications as cadastral mapping and updating, land use as well as other GIS applications.

The PAN cameras were mounted on the satellite in such a way that near simultaneous imaging of the same area from two different angles was possible. This facilitated the generation of accurate three-dimensional maps. The cameras were steerable across the direction of the satellite's movement to facilitate the imaging of an area more frequently.

The images taken by the IRS-P5 PAN cameras were compressed, encrypted, formatted and transmitted to the ground stations. The images were reconstructed from the data received at the ground stations. The National Remote Sensing Centre was responsible for acquisition and processing of data relayed by IRS-P5. A spherical Phased Array Antenna with steerable beam was used to transmit the data to the required ground station. A solid state recorder with 120 Gb capacity to store about nine minutes of payload data was available for global operation of the payloads. The stored images were transmitted when the satellite came within the visibility zone of a ground station.