GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.523
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/11/2006

UPGRADATION OF INDIAN ASTRO-PHYSICS RESEARCH LABORATORIES.

523. Dr. E.M. SUDARSANA NATCHIAPPAN:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Indian Astro-Physics Research Laboratories are being upgraded to the global standard to meet the changing needs; and

(b) if so, what are the schemes proposed for further development of laboratories such as Kodaikanal Astro-Physics Research Institute?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES.
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) Yes sir, Indian Institute of Astro-physics has been making efforts to upgrade its research facilities/ laboratories to the international standard.

(b) The Institute has proposed two major programs during the 11th Plan: (i) setting up of a National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) at a high altitude site in the trans-Himalayan region, and (ii) deployment of a solar coronagraph aboard an Indian satellite. The NLST is expected to be set up by the year 2012 and will be one of the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art solar telescopes in the world. For better night time sky conditions, the Institute has also set up an observatory at Kavalur, near Jolarpettai. At Kodaikanal, the solar tower-tunnel telescope is being modernized with new Charged Coupled Devices (CCDs) and new control systems for study of the Sun in great detail.