Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said science and spirituality have always progressed together in India, highlighting the country's ancient astronomical traditions and the growing achievements of Indian youth in astrophysics, science and technology.
Dedicating the state-of-the-art COSMOS Planetarium on the University of Mysore campus, at the foothills of Chamundi Hills, to the nation, Modi said the facility was India's first LED dome planetarium and would offer visitors an immersive experience of the universe.
"Spirituality and science go hand in hand in India. Despite lacking modern equipment, our ancestors studied the cosmos and the movement of planets very closely. Our ancient astronomers accomplished complex mathematical calculations to study the cosmos," he said.
The Prime Minister praised the Mysuru royal family's contribution to scientific education, particularly its role in establishing the University of Mysore and donating land for the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Recalling his previous visit to the city, Modi said he had come to Mysuru a few months earlier to inaugurate the Vivekananda Memorial and was now returning to dedicate the planetarium.
"The Vivekananda Memorial inspires us to look within ourselves and seek spiritual knowledge. On the other hand, when our eyes turn towards the sky, we are inspired to explore this vast universe and understand its mysteries," he said.
Modi said the two institutions reflected India's longstanding tradition of pursuing spiritual understanding alongside scientific inquiry.
He congratulated the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, the University of Mysore, government departments and others associated with the planetarium's construction.
๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ'๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
Emphasising the rapid pace of technological change, Modi said no country could afford to fall behind in scientific advancement.
He highlighted India's progress in astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration, including the installation of advanced telescopes and the successful deployment of Aditya-L1, the country's first space-based solar observatory.
The Prime Minister said India had become the fourth country to demonstrate satellite docking and undocking capabilities in space.
He also referred to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, through which India became the first country to achieve a soft landing near the Moon's south pole.
Modi recalled Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's visit to the International Space Station in 2025, where he conducted several scientific experiments.
"The experience gained from this mission is proving useful for our own human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan," he said.
The Prime Minister also praised Indian students for their performance at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, where they won medals.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Modi said the government's decision to open the space sector to private enterprises had created new opportunities for innovation and commercial space activities.
He noted that private companies were now able to develop and launch rockets, strengthening India's emerging space ecosystem.
Highlighting the practical applications of space technology, he said India's missions were designed to contribute to human welfare.
"Our satellites help fishermen, track trains in real time, and use satellite data for crop insurance," Modi said.
He stressed that scientific progress must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, particularly in agriculture, transportation and other essential sectors.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐๐๐ต
The Prime Minister highlighted several government initiatives aimed at strengthening scientific research and encouraging innovation among students.
He said Atal Tinkering Labs had benefited more than one crore students by providing opportunities to experiment, develop ideas and engage in practical learning.
Modi also referred to the One Nation, One Subscription initiative, which aims to provide educational and research institutions across the country with access to leading international scientific journals.
He said the Anusandhan National Research Foundation was supporting research activities across a growing number of universities.
The Prime Minister highlighted the โน1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, aimed at ensuring adequate financial support for researchers and encouraging technological breakthroughs.
"Today, a strong ecosystem for science and research is taking shape in the country," he said.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who attended the event, said the COSMOS Planetarium would make astronomy more accessible to children through immersive educational experiences.
"It helps children understand the stars and planets and encourages them to ask questions," she said.
Sitharaman said the facility would also establish live video links with observatories at Hanle in Ladakh and in Tamil Nadu on selected days.
These connections would allow students to observe astronomical research activities and understand how scientists study celestial objects using advanced instruments.
The initiative, she said, would encourage curiosity about space and inspire more young people to pursue careers in science, astronomy and research.