Lok Sabha Question No. 2438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Funds allocated to Observatories
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2438

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023

## FUNDS ALLOCATED TO OBSERVATORIES

## 2438.  SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- whether the Government has sanctioned adequate funds for the Vainu  Bappu  Observatory  at  Kavalur,  Vellore  and  Kodaikanal Solar  Observatory  and  if  so,  the  funds  allocated  to  the  two
- (a) observatories in the last nine years, year-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Indian  Institute  of  Astrophysics  and  the  ISRO  has taken any efforts to initiate and facilitate space research studies from both the observatories and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  these  two observatories  as  educational  tour  destination  for  school  and college students across the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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- (a) Yes  Sir.  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  provides  core grant support to Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) for maintaining solar observational facilities and carrying out related research  activities. The  funds  are  not sanctioned/ allocated separately  for  the  field  stations  like  Vainu  Bappu  Observatory (VBO) at Kavalur and Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KSO), Kodaikanal.

The details of the total expenditure incurred during the last nine years for both the above field stations are shown below year-wise:

(Rs. In lakhs)

| Year    |   Kodaikanal Solar Observatory |   Vainu Bappu Observatory |
|---------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014-15 |                         146.37 |                    146.83 |
| 2015-16 |                         169.64 |                    154.82 |
| 2016-17 |                         141.06 |                    180.87 |
| 2017-18 |                         163.64 |                    186.26 |
| 2018-19 |                         215.07 |                    289.77 |
| 2019-20 |                         318.83 |                    217.7  |
| 2020-21 |                         253.08 |                    184.79 |
| 2021-22 |                         295.46 |                    246.97 |
| 2022-23 |                         382.85 |                    385.38 |

(b) Yes, Sir. IIA carries out a large number of research studies from both the observatories in collaboration with ISRO. Similarly, the ISRO scientists have also availed the facilities at the VBO, Kavalur for their scientific pursuits. (c) The Vainu Bappu Observatory (VBO) and Kodaikanal Solar Observatory are opened for public visits. School and college students regularly  visit  these  Observatories  to  get  some  knowledge  about  the astronomical research being undertaken at these observatories. At Kodaikanal, students visit the Museum and the IIA Archives at the library and are taken on a tour of the research telescopes, followed by night sky watching. IIA also organizes Winter and Summer Schools on basic astronomy every year at Kodaikanal for University students. ****