**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Culture's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 87, posed on July 21, 2025, regarding the Regional Planetarium in Kozhikode. The question raised concerns about the lack of invitations extended to Union Ministers and the local Member of Parliament for functions held at the planetarium.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, acknowledged that Union Ministers and the local Member of Parliament were not contacted for the inauguration of an Astronomy gallery on June 14, 2025, at the Regional Science Centre Planetarium (RSCP), Kozhikode. The inauguration was performed by Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Hon'ble Minister for Public Works Department & Tourism, Government of Kerala. The ministry attributed this oversight to a short notice in finalizing the date of the event.
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), the parent organization of RSCP, has taken note of the incident. NCSM Headquarters has issued detailed guidelines to all its constituent units to institutionalize proper protocol in official communication with public representatives, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The response also clarifies that there is no current proposal under consideration by the Government of India to allocate additional funds for the Regional Planetarium in Kozhikode.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A ministry of the Government of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Shri M K Raghavan: A Member of Parliament who raised a question in the Lok Sabha.
Regional Planetarium, Kozhikode: A planetarium located in Kozhikode, Kerala, which is the subject of the parliamentary question.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas: Minister for Public Works Department Tourism, Government of Kerala, who inaugurated a gallery at the Regional Science Centre Planetarium.
Government of Kerala: The state government of Kerala.
National Council of Science Museums NCSM: An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 87
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
FUNCTIONS ORGANISED AT REGIONAL PLANETARIUM, KOZHIKODE
87. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that Union Ministers and Local Member of
Parliament are not being informed/invited in the functions organised at Regional
Planetarium Kozhikode;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of steps taken/being taken by the Government to forestall such instances in the
future; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to allocate more funds for Regional Planetarium
Kozhikode, which is the second most visited planetarium in the country and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE & TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (c): A gallery on “Astronomy” was inaugurated on 14.06.2025 by Shri P. A. Mohamed
Riyas, Hon’ble Minister for Public Works Department & Tourism, Government of
Kerala, at the Regional Science Centre & Planetarium (RSC&P), Kozhikode, a unit
of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). Due to the short notice in
finalising the date, the Union Ministers and the local Member of Parliament could
not be contacted. While this was an unintended oversight at the unit level, NCSM
has taken cognizance of the matter and instituted measures to ensure that such
instances do not recur in the future.To institutionalise proper protocol in official communication with public
representatives, NCSM Hqrs. has recently issued detailed guidelines to all its
constituent units. These are aimed at ensuring due procedures are followed in future
events and functions.
(d): No. At present, there is no such proposal under consideration by the Government of
India for allocation of additional funds for the Regional Planetarium at Kozhikode.
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