Copyright infringement not intended

Picture Courtesy: Indian Express

Context:

The Union Budget 2026 has approved two new advanced telescopes and the upgrade of an existing facility in Ladakh, strengthening India’s position in global observational astronomy.

National Large Solar Telescope (NLST):

The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) is an upcoming advanced ground-based facility dedicated to high-resolution solar observations. Planned to be operational within 5 - 6 years, it will be installed at Merak in Ladakh, near Pangong Tso, a site known for its high altitude, dry atmosphere, and clear skies. The telescope will have a 2-metre aperture and will become India’s third ground-based solar observatory, after the Kodaikanal (1899) and Udaipur (1975) solar observatories.

Operational Range: NLST will observe the Sun in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths, enabling detailed imaging and spectroscopy of solar surface and atmospheric features.

Scientific objectives:

• Investigate solar magnetic fields, plasma behaviour, and energy transport processes.
• Monitor sunspots, solar flares, prominences, and other dynamic solar phenomena.
• Study and model space-weather events that influence Earth’s near-space environment.

Synergy with space missions: Observations from NLST will work in tandem with ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission, providing complementary ground-based data and enhancing India’s role in heliophysics research. 

National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT):

The National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT) is a proposed next-generation ground-based astronomical facility aimed at deep-space observations. It will be established at Hanle in Ladakh, one of the world’s best sites for optical astronomy due to its high altitude, cold and dry climate, and low atmospheric disturbance. With an expected development timeline of about a decade, NLOT will significantly enhance India’s observational capabilities in modern astronomy.

Technical Features

• Aperture: 13.7 metres
• Design: Segmented primary mirror consisting of about 90 hexagonal mirror segments that function together as a single large mirror.
• Operational Spectrum: Optical and Near-Infrared wavelengths
• Will be among the largest telescopes in its wavelength category globally.

Scientific Objectives

• Detection and characterization of exoplanets
• Study of stellar life cycles and galaxy evolution
• Observation of supernovae and transient phenomena
• Investigations into early universe formation and cosmic structure

Strategic significance

• Ladakh’s clear skies enable high-resolution, low-distortion observations.
• Unique geographic longitude allows India to provide continuous time coverage in global observation networks.
• Greater domestic observation time for Indian researchers compared to international shared facilities.
• Strengthens India’s capacity in precision optics, instrumentation, and big-science infrastructure. 

Significance of new astronomical developments in Ladakh:

• Enhanced observational capability: The establishment of the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), the National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT), and the upgrade of the Himalayan Chandra Telescope will significantly expand India’s multi-wavelength ground-based observational capacity across solar, optical, and infrared domains. 

• Geographic and atmospheric advantage: Located in Ladakh, the facilities will benefit from high altitude, dry atmosphere, low light pollution, and a large number of clear nights, enabling high-resolution observations with minimal atmospheric distortion, while the region’s longitude will help fill critical gaps in global observation networks. 

• Improved space weather preparedness: High-resolution solar observations from NLST will strengthen the monitoring and prediction of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which is essential for protecting satellites, navigation systems, communication networks, power infrastructure, and space missions.  

• Advancement of frontier scientific research: The new optical and infrared capabilities will enable cutting-edge research on exoplanets, stellar evolution, galaxy formation, transient phenomena such as supernovae, and the early universe, enhancing India’s contribution to global astrophysics. 

• Greater access for Indian researchers: The development of large domestic facilities will provide Indian scientists with greater and more consistent observation time, reducing dependence on international telescopes and strengthening the national research ecosystem. 

• Technological self-reliance and industrial growth: These projects will drive indigenous capabilities in precision optics, segmented mirror technology, adaptive optics, detectors, and advanced instrumentation, promoting high-technology manufacturing and scientific self-reliance. 

Conclusion:

The establishment of new large telescopes and the upgrade of existing facilities in Ladakh represent a transformative step for India’s astronomy ecosystem. By leveraging the region’s unique high-altitude and low-disturbance conditions, these projects will significantly enhance the country’s capabilities in solar studies, deep-space observations, and time-domain astronomy. The developments will not only improve space weather forecasting and support the safety of critical space and communication infrastructure, but also enable cutting-edge research on exoplanets, stellar evolution, galaxies, and the early universe. At the same time, they will strengthen indigenous expertise in precision optics, advanced instrumentation, and high-technology manufacturing. Together, these initiatives will expand opportunities for Indian scientists, foster international collaboration, and position India as a major global centre for observational astronomy and big-science research.

Source: Indian Express