**Executive Summary**
A post-budget webinar was held to discuss the utilization of budget announcements from 2026-27 to strengthen India's telescope ecosystem and advance astronomy. The discussions focused on building capacity in astronomy and futuristic technologies, particularly reaching remote regions and fostering inclusivity. Key initiatives include the establishment and upgrade of four major telescope infrastructure facilities.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Budget Allocation for Telescope Ecosystem**
* Budget 2026-27 announces support for telescope infrastructure facilities to expand capacity in astronomy and futuristic technologies.
* The initiative aims to reach institutes and universities across different regions of the country.
* **New and Upgraded Telescope Facilities**
* Four major telescope infrastructure facilities are set to be established or upgraded.
* These include the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) at Merak, Ladakh.
* The National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT) and the upgraded Himalayan Chandra Telescope (uHCT) will be built at Hanle, Ladakh.
* COSMOS-2, India's second LED Dome planetarium, will be constructed at Amaravathi.
* **Strategic Objectives and Broader Impact**
* The webinar emphasized strengthening the astronomy and mega-science ecosystem.
* Discussions aimed to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and research institutions.
* The goal is to advance indigenous technologies and promote inclusivity in STEM fields.
* The initiatives are expected to drive transformative discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Astronomy and Astrophysics Sector**
* **Impact:** Enhanced infrastructure and upgraded facilities will significantly boost research capabilities, leading to potential transformative discoveries. It will strengthen India's position in global astronomy.
* **Action Required:** Researchers and institutions should leverage the new and upgraded facilities for their research projects and collaborations.
* **Youth and Women in STEM**
* **Impact:** The initiative aims to expand STEM opportunities, encouraging greater participation from youth and women, and building capacity for an innovation-driven India.
* **Action Required:** Youth and women should be encouraged to explore opportunities in astronomy and related fields, utilizing the expanded resources.
* **Academia, Industry, and Research Institutions**
* **Impact:** The focus on fostering collaboration will lead to stronger inter-institutional partnerships and the advancement of indigenous technologies.
* **Action Required:** These entities should actively participate in collaborations and leverage the new infrastructure for joint projects and technological development.
* **Remotest Regions of India**
* **Impact:** Efforts are being made to reach institutes and universities in remote regions, thereby building capacity and ensuring equitable access to advanced facilities.
* **Action Required:** Institutes and universities in remote areas should engage with the program to access resources and contribute to the national astronomy ecosystem.
Key Entities Referenced
Budget 2026-27: The budget allocating funds for telescope infrastructure facilities and other science initiatives.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The government ministry coordinating the session and involved in advancing astronomy infrastructure.
National Large Solar Telescope (NLST): A major telescope infrastructure facility to be set up.
National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT): A major telescope infrastructure facility to be set up.
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA): An institution involved in discussions about astronomy infrastructure and capacity building.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Post budget webinar discusses ways to use
budget announcements to strengthen India’s
telescope ecosystem
Posted On: 10 MAR 2026 8:09PM by PIB Delhi
Experts discussed ways of strengthening telescope infrastructure and overcoming geographical, gender,
and generational gaps in firming up capacity in astronomy and futuristic technologies at a breakout session
on Telescope Infrastructure Facilities of the post budget webinar “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas – Fulfilling
Aspirations of People.”
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Post Budget Webinar
2026–27 underscoring expanding STEM opportunities for youth and women and stressed on the need to
reach the remotest regions to build capacity for an innovation-driven India.
In line with this, astronomy experts from institutes across the country, deliberated on using the support in
budget 2026-27 for telescope infrastructure facilities to reach out to institutes and universities in different
regions to advance the next generation capacity in astronomy and futuristic technologies, at the session
coordinated by the Ministry of Science & Technology.
In a major boost to mega-science facilities in the country, the budget of 2026-27 has announced four
telescope infrastructure facilities to be set up or upgraded. These include the National Large Solar
Telescope (NLST), the National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT), the upgraded Himalayan
Chandra Telescope (uHCT) and the COSMOS-2 Planetarium. The NLST will be built at Merak, Ladakh,
while the NLOT and uHCT will be built at Hanle, Ladakh. COSMOS-2, the 2nd LED Dome planetarium to
be built in India, will be constructed at Amaravathi.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who addressed the
concluding session highlighted the creation of advanced instrumentation and sophisticated research
infrastructure facilities across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and
expressed confidence that the coming decades would be driven by transformative discoveries in
astronomy and astrophysics enabled by large aperture telescopes.
DST Secretary Professor Abhay Karandikar in his introduction to the breakout session stressed that the
discussions at the session could set the framework for effective and timely utilisation of the budget support
to catapult the astronomy infrastructure and capacity of the country to the global level.
The session moderated by Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA),
an autonomous Institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) also discussed
consolidating the astronomy and mega-science ecosystem of the country, advancing indigenous
technologies, and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and research institutions.Panelists included Prof. Jayaram Chengalur, director TIFR, Prof. A. N. Ramaprakash, scientist IUCAA,
Dr. K. Sankarasubramanian, scientist ISRO, Mr. B. M. Raghavendra from Larsen & Toubro and Prof. Ajit
Kembhavi, former director of IUCAA.
Discussions highlighted the importance of the budget announcements in strengthening India’s leadership
in astronomy and astrophysics through mega-science projects, while also inspiring the next generation of
astronomers and space scientists.
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NKR/FK
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