Nirmala Sitharaman: COSMOS Planetarium to boost astronomy education, research and tourism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being presented a memento by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the inauguration of COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium, in Mysuru on Friday. | Photo Credit: ANI Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said Karnataka, a leader in IT, biotechnology, aerospace and space technology, was well-positioned to benefit from emerging opportunities in the space sector, and described the COSMOS Mysuru LED Dome Planetarium as an important facility to promote astronomy education, research and tourism.In her welcome address at the inauguration of the planetarium at the foothills of Chamundi Hill, she said the facility would make astronomical observations accessible to students and researchers, offering opportunities for immersive learning and deeper study of astronomy.Observations from the observatories at Ladakh and Kodaikanal could be accessed at the Mysuru planetarium so that students gain a better understanding of astronomical phenomena, she said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier inaugurated the planetarium and toured the facility.Besides providing access to actual astronomical observations, the facility would also give a boost to the tourism economy. Schools and educational institutions could bring students in groups to explore India’s journey in space technology, she said.Through specially curated shows, students would gain a better understanding of India’s landmark space missions, including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and Gaganyaan, she added.Pointing out that the Centre had opened up the space sector to private players in 2020 to encourage research and innovation, Ms. Sitharaman said the move had created new opportunities for young people to pursue careers, establish start-ups and undertake research in space technology.The national vision of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan’ had now been expanded with ‘Jai Anusandhan’, highlighting the importance accorded to research and innovation, she added. Published - November 13, 2026 07:48 pm IST