India to Establish Two New Telescopes in Ladakh | 12 Feb 2026

Why in News?

In the Union Budget 2026-27, the Indian government approved a major expansion of its ground-based astronomy infrastructure in Ladakh, including the establishment of two new mega-telescopes and the upgrade of an existing facility.

Key Points: 

  • New Telescope Projects: Establish the National Large Solar Telescope and the National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope. 
  • National Large Solar Telescope (NLST): To observe the Sun’s surface and atmosphere with high resolution. 
    • Location: Near Pangong Tso lake, Ladakh. 
    • Scientific Focus: Solar magnetic fields, flares, coronal mass ejections and space-weather phenomena. 
  • Significance: Once completed, NLST will be India’s third ground-based solar observatory, complementing existing facilities such as the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (Tamil Nadu) and Udaipur Solar Observatory (Rajasthan), and augmenting data from India’s Aditya-L1 space observatory. 
  • National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT): A deep-space optical and near-infrared telescope for cutting-edge cosmic research. 
    • Scientific Applications: Studies of exoplanets, stellar and galactic evolution, cosmology, supernovae and distant galaxies. 
  • Significance: With its large collecting area and high altitude site, NLOT will be among the most powerful optical telescopes in the region for deep-space observation. 
  • Upgradation of Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT):The HCT will be upgraded to a telescope with a 3.7-metre segmented primary mirror, improving its sensitivity and wavelength coverage into optical-infrared regimes. 
    • Scientific Impact: The enhanced HCT will allow deeper observations and complement both international observatories and the new telescopes being built under this programme. 
  • Why Ladakh?: Ladakh, located at high altitude with clear, dry skies and low atmospheric disturbance, has been identified as an optimal site for astronomical observations, and is already home to several important optical and high-energy astronomy facilities.