India celebrates joining Square Kilometre Array Observatory as member country, to set up regional data centre

India had earlier approved information successful this planetary mega-science task with a committedness of Rs 1,250 crore, funded jointly by the Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science and Technology to enactment India’s activities successful the SKA task up to 2031.

Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, who was contiguous astatine the lawsuit held astatine the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), hailed this singular milestone which DAE has achieved successful the platinum jubilee of its existence. “This mega subject planetary collaboration puts India up successful the planetary technological forum,” helium said.

The Indian subject assemblage is gearing up for an progressive relation successful the SKAO, said Prof Yashwant Gupta, Centre Director, NCRA-Pune, that is the nodal instauration for coordination of Square Kilometre Array (SKA) related activities successful the country. “Previously, India was an subordinate associate astatine SKAO Council. Following signifier omniscient approvals, India has go a afloat subordinate and we are processing a determination information centre. A tiny prototype centre is acceptable for use, Gupta said, adding that determination would beryllium much progressive information successful SKA information challenges. “We person immoderate well-defined roles including contributing to information processing software,” helium said.

Prof Yogesh Wadadekar of NCRA-TIFR who is coordinating the effort to physique the SRC successful India said that the centre volition process, store and supply entree to SKAO information products for the astronomy community.

Prof Pankaj Jain of IIT Kanpur, the SKA-India consortium Chair of 24 world and probe institutes, said India has made important contributions to the captious bundle elements astatine the bosom of SKA telescopes. “India volition proceed its enactment to supervise the improvement of the Observatory Monitor and Control system, which volition contented commands required to transportation retired astronomical observations. In delivering this important constituent we volition prosecute with the expertise of the bundle industry. We are presently successful the process of mounting up grooming programmes for UG and PG students successful each aspects of vigor astronomy,” helium said.