The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites are the mainstay of the Indian Department of Space's National Natural Resources Management System.

IRS-1C and IRS-1D were second generation remote sensing operational satellites developed by ISRO to carry three distinct and mutually complementary imaging payloads. The combination of payloads enhanced the capabilities of IRS-1C/1D as compared to the predecessor IRS-1A/1B in terms of spatial resolution, provision of an additional spectral band, ability to acquire stereoscopic images and inclusion of a wide field sensor for improved temporal resolution.