Relevance: GS-III (Science & Technology – Space) | Source: The Indian Express

1. Context: From “Data User” to “Data Generator”

In the Union Budget 2026-27, the government sanctioned three major telescope projects in Ladakh. This strategic move aims to make India a global hub for observational astronomy, reducing our reliance on foreign data to study the Sun and the Deep Universe.

2. The Three Key Projects

Project Location Purpose & Specifications
1. National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) Merak (near Pangong Tso) • Role: A 2-metre telescope to study Solar Storms (Space Weather) that threaten satellites/GPS.

• Synergy: Acts as a ground-based partner to ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission.
2. National Large Optical Telescope (NLOT) Hanle (Dark Sky Reserve) • Role: A massive 13.7-metre telescope to hunt for Exoplanets and study the universe’s origin.

• Tech: Uses “Segmented Mirror” technology (many small mirrors acting as one), similar to the James Webb Space Telescope.
3. Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) Upgrade Hanle • Upgrade: Replacing the old 2-metre mirror with a 3.7-metre segmented mirror.

• Role: Focuses on “Transient Astronomy”—catching short-lived events like Supernovae (exploding stars).

3. Why Ladakh?

  • The “Hanle Effect”: Hanle is India’s first notified Dark Sky Reserve.
  • Conditions: At 4,500m, the air is thin and dry (water vapor absorbs starlight). This offers crystal-clear visibility, far better than lower altitudes.

UPSC Value Box

Strategic Concept: “The Longitudinal Advantage”

  • Telescopes in the West (USA) and East (Japan) leave a time gap. India’s location fills this “Blind Spot,” allowing for 24×7 monitoring of the sky. When the sun sets in Japan, India takes over before it rises in Europe.

Key Tech: “Segmented Mirrors”

  • Making a single 13-meter glass mirror is impossible. Instead, engineers use 90 small hexagonal mirrors joined like a honeycomb. This indigenous tech (mastered for the global TMT project) allows us to build giant eyes on the sky.

Q. With reference to India’s astronomical infrastructure, consider the following statements:

  1. The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) is located at Merak to study solar magnetic fields.
  2. The National Large Optical Telescope (NLOT) at Hanle utilizes ‘Segmented Mirror’ technology, similar to the James Webb Space Telescope.
  3. Hanle is chosen for optical telescopes because its high moisture content stabilizes the atmosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

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