A file picture of guests at an exhibition at Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru. All these initiatives will be overseen by the Bengaluru-based IIA.
| Photo Credit: File picture
The development and improve of the 4 main astronomical facilities, which was announced in the Union Budget, is anticipated to cost about ₹3,500 crore, and a proposal for approval of the challenge will be positioned earlier than the cupboard.
A Department of Science and Technology official, whereas taking part in the post-budget webinar on Telescope Infrastructure Facilities, on March 9 stated, “We are at a stage where we will get approval from the expenditure finance committee and then it goes to the cabinet for approval. Any project over ₹1,000 crore needs to get approval from the cabinet. These four projects put together will be in the range of ₹3,500 crore,” he stated.
The 4 initiatives announced in the Union Budget to promote Astrophysics and Astronomy by way of immersive experiences, are the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), the National Large Optical infrared Telescope (NLOT), the upgraded Himalayan Chandra Telescope (uHCT) at Hanle in Ladakh, and the Cosmology Education and Research Training Centre (COSMOS 2) Planetarium. All these initiatives will be overseen by the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
IIA Director Professor Annapurni Subramaniam, who moderated the session on the telescope infrastructure facilities, gave a top level view of the 4 initiatives, which can be completed over a period of three to 13 years.
The NLST challenge, which is a two-metre telescope, will come up at Merak in Ladakh. Prof. Annapurni stated that the NLST will be India’s subsequent era window to the Sun.
“The timeline for completing this project is five years. It will serve as the vital ground-based counterpart to the Aditya-L1 mission, providing high resolution magnetic maps. It will be strategically located to fill the observational void between major facilities in the USA and Europe enabling 24/7 global solar surveillance,” she stated.
On the NLOT, she stated that the challenge objective is to set up India’s first segmented mirror massive aperture optical infrared observatory, which can allow frontier science in the period of multi-messenger multi-wavelength astronomy.
She stated that the overall length of the challenge is 13 years, and the goal first mild will be in the yr 2038.
Prof. Annapurni added that the uHCT at Hanle will be upgraded with multiplexing functionality for key science drivers. similar to spectroscopic classification of transients, milky means stellar populations, galaxy redshift surveys and energetic galactic nuclei demographics.
COSMOS 2 is anticipated to come up in three years in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. IT may have a 15-metre LED tilted dome with 15 diploma inclination, and 150-seat sky theatre.
Published – March 10, 2026 10:22 am IST