Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mysuru planetarium described as India’s first LED curved-dome planetarium, along with the Cosmos–Mysuru cosmology education and research training centre, at the foothills of Chamundi Hill on Friday. The facilities have been built by the Union Department of Science and Technology and are intended to expand public access to astronomy education and research training.
Speaking at a public function after the inauguration, Modi said science and innovation were being consistently encouraged to support society and development. He described the planetarium as a new chapter in India’s scientific journey and said it could help give shape to the aspirations of young people.
The Prime Minister visited the planetarium and was briefed on its advanced facilities. He also viewed space-related presentations from the facility’s “Sky Theatre” and interacted with children. Describing the experience as “truly wonderful”, Modi said a visit to the planetarium could turn people’s attention towards the sky and encourage them to understand the wider universe and its unanswered questions.
The project combines a public-facing astronomy venue with the Cosmos–Mysuru centre, which is focused on cosmology education and research training. The source report does not specify the total project cost, seating capacity, operating schedule or the number of students and visitors the facility is expected to serve.
At the event, Modi linked the new facility to Mysuru’s longer educational history. He referred to the establishment of the University of Mysore during the period of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and the role of the Wadiyar family in the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. He said these institutions had provided generations of students and researchers with opportunities to develop their abilities and pursue new work.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s decision to open the space sector to private participation, saying this had created new opportunities for private industry and a platform for Indian start-ups to demonstrate their capabilities. He said satellite technology, space science and earth-science technologies were being combined to improve everyday life.
Research access was another theme of the address. Modi said students and researchers needed access to high-quality research facilities and scientific publications, and referred to the One Nation One Subscription initiative as a measure launched for that purpose. The report does not provide further operational details about how the initiative will be linked to the Cosmos–Mysuru centre.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Governor Sudha Yadav, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi and Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar attended the programme. The new planetarium adds a specialised science-education facility to Mysuru’s institutional landscape, while its longer public impact will depend on access, programming and the scale of its engagement with schools, students and researchers.
