On November 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium in Karnataka. It is India’s first LED-dome planetarium and will play a significant role in promoting scientific education, astronomy and innovation among the youth. He said that this facility will bring students closer to the mysteries of the universe and inspire the next generation of scientists.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s rich astronomical heritage and recalled the contributions of eminent scholars such as Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskaracharya and Nilakantha Somayaji. He said their achievements were remarkable, as they made significant discoveries and complex calculations without modern scientific instruments or technology.
Highlighting India’s progress in space exploration, PM Modi mentioned the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon’s south pole, the Aditya-L1 solar mission and India’s achievement in demonstrating docking and undocking capabilities in space. He said the experience gained during an Indian astronaut’s recent mission to the International Space Station would support preparations for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
Prime Minister Modi said that opening up the space sector to private participation has created opportunities for Indian startups to develop rockets, launch satellites and initiate new and innovative space-related ventures. He also highlighted the role of space technology in everyday life, citing satellite-based communication systems that provide fishermen with timely weather alerts. He further referred to the Real-Time Train Tracking System developed by Indian Railways and ISRO, as well as the use of satellite data for crop-yield assessment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to promote research and innovation, PM Modi referred to initiatives such as more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, which have benefited over one crore students, the One Nation One Subscription scheme, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme.
Modi praised Indian students for their performance at the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in Vietnam, where four won gold medals and one secured silver. Concluding his address, Modi urged the planetarium authorities to organise regular visits for school and college students, saying COSMOS would help foster scientific curiosity, promote learning and inspire future discoveries.
(PIB)
