INSAT-3A is a multipurpose satellite for providing telecommunications, television broadcasting, meteorological and search & rescue services. INSAT-3A payloads include Normal C-band transponders with expanded coverage from Middle East to South East Asia, Extended C-band transponders providing India coverage and Ku-band transponders providing India coverage. The satellite also carries one Data Relay Transponder (DRT) and one Satellite Aided Search and Rescue (SAS&R) payload. SAS&R payload has a global receive coverage with 406 MHz uplink and C-band downlink with India coverage for the relay of signals from distress beacons in sea, air or land.