Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 November 2026 inaugurated COSMOS-Mysuru Planetarium in Mysuru, Karnataka — India's first LED Dome planetarium — and stressed that no nation could afford to slow its scientific progress amid the accelerating pace of global technological change. Speaking at the event, Modi said India was actively building a robust ecosystem for science and research to stay competitive on the world stage.

Modi's Core Message on Science and Technology

Addressing the gathering after watching a show at the facility, the Prime Minister underlined the urgency of scientific advancement. “Today, technology is changing rapidly. No country can take the risk of undermining or slowing down its progress. A strong ecosystem for science and research is being created in the country,” he said.

Modi framed the inauguration as more than a civic milestone, calling COSMOS-Mysuru a “state-of-the-art institution dedicated to the youth and people of the country.” He also recalled his earlier visit to Mysuru for the inauguration of Viveka Smaraka, drawing a parallel between that occasion's spiritual focus and the new planetarium's scientific one, saying India's traditions of science and spirituality had “always travelled together.”

India's Space Achievements in Focus

The Prime Minister highlighted India's significant strides in astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration over the past decade. He pointed to Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the Moon's south polar region, and the Aditya-L1 mission, which established India's first dedicated space-based solar observatory.

He further noted that India had demonstrated space docking and undocking capability last year, becoming the fourth country in the world to achieve the feat. The government has also opened up the space sector to startups and young entrepreneurs, who are now developing and launching rockets independently.

Highlighting practical benefits of space technology, Modi referenced the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s systems that alert fishing vessels of danger, the Real-Time Train Tracking System developed with Indian Railways and ISRO, and satellite data used under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for crop insurance. “Science for society is our approach,” he said.

Mysuru's Scientific Legacy and Ancient Indian Astronomy

Modi paid tribute to Mysuru's historic role in promoting knowledge and scientific inquiry. During the reign of Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the University of Mysore was established, while the Wadiyar family also played a pivotal role in founding the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru.

The Prime Minister also recalled India's ancient astronomical heritage, citing contributions by scholars such as Aryabhata, Bhaskaracharya, and Nilakantha Somayaji, who made complex calculations about celestial movements without modern instruments. He noted that ancestors had developed calendars and accurately predicted solar and lunar eclipses.

Youth Achievements and the ₹1 Lakh Crore Research Push

Modi celebrated the performance of Indian students at international science competitions. At the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics held in Vietnam this year, five Indian students won four gold medals and one silver medal. India had hosted the same competition in Mumbai the previous year, he noted.

He also referenced the government's ₹1 lakh crore research and innovation scheme launched last year to strengthen the country's scientific ecosystem. Updating the national rallying cry, Modi recalled that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had added 'Jai Vigyan' to the original 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan, while he himself had further added 'Jai Anusandhan' (hail research).

Urging COSMOS-Mysuru's management and educational institutions to bring more students to the facility, the Prime Minister said: “One among them may return one day with an innovation or discovery about the universe.”

Dignitaries Present

The event was attended by Governor Sudha Yadav, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, BJP MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, and other senior officials. The planetarium has been developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in collaboration with the University of Mysore and government departments.

With India's space ambitions growing and the ₹1 lakh crore research fund set to scale up activity, COSMOS-Mysuru is likely to serve as both a public engagement hub and a symbol of the Centre's science-first agenda in the years ahead.