The budget brought some encouragement to the Indian research community, especially those involved in astronomy and space research, as it earmarked ₹13,416.20 crore for the space ministry for 2026-27.
A large portion of the allocation was earmarked for deep space exploration and astrophysics, including the construction of two advanced telescope facilities: the 30m National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope and the National Large Solar Telescope near Pangong Lake in Ladakh.
The soon-to-be-completed COSMOS-2 planetarium at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and improvements to the control systems of the Chandra Himalayan Telescope at Hanla in Ladakh are also in the spotlight. Currently, only the US, China, Japan and the European Union prioritize astronomical research to a high degree and continuously invest large sums in upgrading their ground-based and space-based telescopes. So astronomers said that the allocation of telescopes will improve space research capacity and scientific outreach in India.
Frontier research
However, experts have also expressed concern about a significant drop in spending, with actual spending lagging behind budget estimates. This underutilization has led to bottlenecks in the planning and implementation of large projects in the past.
“There were several proposed space missions that ended up not being supported,” said Bhaswati Mookerjea, professor and chair of the department of astronomy and astrophysics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai.
Dr. Mookerjea added that while the budget “is an extremely positive step for astronomy in India”, the importance of its compliance cannot be overstated: “Achieving major projects in India would still require some streamlining of resources through checks and balances.”
Only a few large astronomical observatories are capable of frontier research and breakthrough discoveries around the world, meaning researchers must compete for observing time. And with funding agencies favoring their own national researchers, access to international researchers is increasingly restricted, and Indians are no exception.
Reliance on foreign equipment
To make matters worse, an astrophysicist (who did not wish to be identified) told this reporter that India’s problem is compounded by the attitude of bureaucrats and administrators.
“They are keen on concepts like buying fractional time on large telescopes or missions – measures that are not only essential to foster stronger international collaboration and keep us at the forefront of astronomical research, but also serve as a stopgap until we have large telescopes of our own,” the astrophysicist said.
For too long, the country has relied on overseas facilities for high-resolution data and specialized equipment for space science, including joint projects such as radio, optical and space observations. Thus, acquiring strong indigenous capabilities in space science and astrophysics is essential if India is to reduce its dependence on foreign observatories.
Constantly reinforced
However, building large-scale next-generation observatories for cutting-edge space research requires overcoming daunting financial and technological hurdles. These challenges often require collaboration with international teams, and pooling resources and expertise is often the only way for Indian scientists to engage in ambitious projects. Adequate funding, effective management and partnership with domestic industry offer a realistic solution to break this dependence on foreign facilities and research data.
Fortunately, India’s astronomy and space research ecosystem is constantly strengthening with the addition of cutting-edge technology platforms. These include optical and radio telescopes, such as the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune, and data processing centers capable of AI-driven data analysis. These efforts, along with new budget pressures, could boost India’s research capabilities, with a growing shift toward public-private partnerships in space research adding to the optimism.
“Basic science and big-budget experiments around the world require funding from government agencies,” said Dr. Mookerjea. “Although there are many private enterprises in the space sector, the proper direction of their efforts and overall quality control and monitoring would require the establishment of statutory bodies involving government agencies.”
“In the last decade or so, we have seen many startups in the space sector often working closely with experts from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO),” said Abhimanyu Susobhanan, assistant professor of physics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Thiruvananthapuram. “The Ministry of Space has established India’s National Space Enablement and Authorization Center in 2020 to promote such partnerships. This is a positive sign as such partnerships will promote innovation and attract private investment in the space sector.”
Submillimeter sky
But for this to happen, policymakers should recognize “the necessity of strategic resource allocation and collaborative initiatives to maximize scientific output from the country’s astronomical assets.” But he warned, “we must also remember that private interests do not always coincide with the interests of the nation as a whole.
An important advantage of developing domestic top resources in space science is that it will encourage students to engage in advanced research in the country and stop the constant brain drain to institutions abroad. But that’s easier said than done because there’s still a lot of homework to be done before that becomes a reality. For example, GMRT is the world’s largest radio telescope operating at low frequencies and attracts astronomers from all over the world. But since there is no comparable optical telescope in the country, Indian scientists are forced to queue for a telescope at foreign facilities, as they do for research in high-frequency radio astronomy.
Similarly, India has no telescope operating in the critical submillimeter wavelengths.
“The submillimeter sky is a unique window to explore the architecture of the universe and the structures within it, from dusty submillimeter galaxies to the ring-like nature of protostellar disks,” said Dr. Mookerjea. “The proposal is being prepared and is also part of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Mega Science Vision 2035.”
Only when such projects are implemented can India’s march towards becoming a leader in space exploration accelerate.
Prakash Chandra is a science writer.
Published – 09 Feb 2026 05:30 IST
