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Announced the setting up and upgrading of four major telescope and astronomy facilities(Union Budget 2026–27)

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Announced the setting up and upgrading of four major telescope and astronomy facilities(Union Budget 2026–27) These facilities, designed to promote astrophysics and astronomy, are to be overseen by the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).  The four facilities are: 1.National Large Solar Telescope (NLST): A proposed ground-based 2-meter class optical and near-infrared (IR) solar observational facility to be located near Pangong Tso in Merak, Ladakh. 2. National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT): A major 10-12 metre class telescope designed to be a premier, large-aperture optical and infrared observatory, likely to be situated at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle, Ladakh. 3.Upgraded Himalayan Chandra Telescope (uHCT): An upgrade for the existing 2-metre class telescop e in Hanle, Ladakh, to enhance its sensitivity and instrumentation for more precise observations. 4.COSMOS-2 Planetarium: A next-generation, modern LED-dome planetarium and as...
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Norma Swenson-Changed Women health care forever

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Norma Swenson-Changed Women health care forever Who she was, what she witnessed? Her name was Norma Swenson. She was 26 years old when she gave birth to her daughter Sarah in 1958 — and what she witnessed in that maternity ward that day would shape the rest of her 93 years on earth. All around her, women in labor were being given Scopolamine, a drug that induced what doctors called "twilight sleep" — a state of semi-consciousness filled with hallucinations and terror. When the women thrashed, confused and frightened, they were tied to their beds with restraints. They were then given Demerol, which rendered them unconscious, while their babies were delivered by forceps. Norma watched these women screaming, trying to climb out of their beds, calling for their mothers, cursing their husbands. She later said she knew immediately: "These women weren't being helped. They were being controlled." Norma herself refused the drugs entirely. She gave birth awake, alert, and...
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Pakistan-Afghanistan tension escalation between neighbours

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Pakistan-Afghanistan tension escalation between neighbours  Afghanistan's Taliban government said it had launched an offensive on Pakistani military bases near the border on Thursday(26 Feb 2026) night. Pakistan responded within hours, bombing targets in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the provinces of Kandahar and Paktika - Afghan provinces close to its 2,600km (1,615 miles) border. The bombings are the most significant development in the ongoing tensions between the two countries, which had agreed to a ceasefire last October following a week of deadly clashes What makes this time different? What makes the latest round of Pakistani strikes significant is that they have targeted Taliban government facilities instead of terrorist targets in Afghanistan,  The Afghan Taliban's military chief, Qari Muhammad Fasihuddin, said in a video message on Friday that Pakistan could expect "an even more decisive response" in future. The attacks on places like Abbottabad and Swabi ...
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CSIR's Scientific Social Responsibility program for school students & teachers

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CSIR's Scientific Social Responsibility program for school students & teachers CSIR - Jigyasa The objective of Jigyasa is to extend the classroom learning by focusing on well-planned research laboratory based learning for school students.  Visit and interaction with researchers  The Jigyasa program  initiated on 2017, nearly 981 Jiygasa programs were conducted by CSIR labs. About 300,000 school students, 15,000 teachers participated in different engagement modules by visiting CSIR Laboratories in close proximity till 2019 the beginning of the pandemic. During the visits, CSIR scientists directly interacted with the students and teachers.   MOUs were signed between individual CSIR laboratories to bring in quality with value added research knowledge with Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), Karnataka State S&T Academy (KSTA), Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NitiAayog, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), NGO’s, stakeholders, individuals...
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Mars conjuct Pluto in Aquarius

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Mars conjuct Pluto in Aquarius  27 January 2026,10.30pm ist For Libra Sun Create boldly, and act with an open heart, Libra. You’re craving more joy, pleasure and self-expression, and you’re done worrying about how it makes other people look. This could be a creative risk or simply prioritizing fun again. You’re done editing yourself for approval. Let yourself be seen doing what you love. Advise What you do now is crucial - think in terms of what you want to create rather than what you want to tear down or who you want to hurt/dominate. Compiled by  Ms Naresh kuwar 
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Regional Science Centre, Jaipur

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Regional Science Centre, Jaipur The ‘Regional Science Centre, Jaipur’ has been set up by National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India with active support of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Rajasthan. The Centre through its interactive science exhibitions and non-formal science education programs is expected to cater the people of the regional. .The centre has following - Frontiers of Astronomy  India is one of the very few countries which have used frontiers of space technology of empowering its citizens. The gallery takes the visitors to face the most intriguing questions that are concerns in astronomy today and the exhibits like weighing the universe’ measuring the universe’ and ‘mapping the universe’ offering plausible answers to these questions.  Interactive exhibits, artifacts, multimedia and other state of art audio/ visual display have been used to make the understanding of our co...
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Heliophysics

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What is Heliophysics? Studying the nature of the Sun and how it influences the very nature of space and the planets and the technology that exists there.  Space is not completely empty: We live in the extended atmosphere of an active star. Our Sun sends out a steady outpouring of particles and energy known as the solar wind, carrying the Sun's writhing magnetic field. This extensive, dynamic solar atmosphere surrounds the Sun, Earth, the planets, and extends far out into the solar system. Why we need to study Heliophysics? It not only helps us understand fundamental information about how the universe works,  Also helps protect our technology and astronauts in space from the effects of space weather.  Space weather events can interfere with our communications, satellites and power grids.  The study of the Sun and space also reveals how stars contribute to the habitability of planets throughout the universe. Mapping out this interconnected system requires a holistic st...
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