NavIC is a large, complex project reliant on multiple agencies working collaboratively to solve technical problems spanning several disciplines. Delays and expenditure overruns are not unexpected. Integrating input from numerous ISRO teams, government agencies and the private sector is required. ISRO's contribution was assessed by an official audit report published in March 2018. The report highlighted delays in "sites not being ready, revisions in the technical specifications, non-compliance with contract specifications by the contractor, delays in shipment and delays in completion of civil works" Absence of coordination between government and other agencies and "sheer administrative laxity" resulted in the delays. Cost overruns included the purchase of 7 modems at $500,000 (INR 3.7 crore) for use by the ground segment that were not capable of performing the desired function.

Arguably the delays in completing the space and ground segments should have provided additional time to complete the user segment. Despite this, the applications, hardware, and associated infrastructure have been slow to offer countrywide satellite navigation services.

In addition to traditional uses for fleet management, drivers, hikers and mountaineers, India has combined NavIC capability with its satellite-based air traffic control system for civil aviation called GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation). Hardware companies are producing GPS receiver modules specifically for the emerging Indian market that are compatible with GPS and GAGAN. The additional precision and resilience increase the scope of projects that can support India's economic development. They include supporting the Archaeological Survey of India in protecting India's heritage sites, assisting the fishing industry to locate the best fishing areas, development of transportation networks (especially bridges, flyovers and elevated expressways), help in defining accurate land records, and supporting the Indian railways to reduce accidents at automated railway crossings in addition to improving real-time railway operations.

NavIC, along with other navigation satellite services, was designed primarily to support applications here on Earth. A new and exciting avenue is now open that makes satellite navigation services available to spacecraft in Earth orbit. NavIC is well-placed to provide emerging services for space-based commercial and scientific uses in the not-too-distant future. Hardware manufacturers are developing satellite receiver modules that operate with India's NavIC, as well as those from other countries.

India's journey to develop an independent and indigenous nationwide satellite-based navigation system is pretty much complete. By the time the full constellation is declared operational, it will be approaching the halfway mark of its 10-to-12-year predicted lifetime. India always had plans to increase the constellation to around a dozen from the initial seven to improve accuracy and resilience. That increase will involve the private sector, which was already tapped to build both IRNSS-1H and IRNSS-1I. ISRO is now in the final stages of selecting an Indian company to source its Rubidium clocks for future navigation satellites.

In the meantime, although no formal public announcement has been made—nor is one expected—NavIC is fully operational. It is already in use by many in India, including fishermen.[12]