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Which NIT has become first in India with campus-based astronomical observatory?
NITTrichy
NITSrinagar
NITRourkela
NITWarangal
NITSrinagar
NIT Srinagar has inaugurated India's first campus-based astronomical observatory equipped with a 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope in September 2026.
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar officially inaugurated the NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA) on September 22, 2026. This facility marks a significant milestone in Indian technical education, providing students and researchers with a dedicated platform for astrophotography and planetary observation. The observatory is designed to offer aberration-free, flat-field images, bridging the gap between theoretical astrophysics and practical observational research. It establishes NIT Srinagar as a pioneer among technical institutions in India in providing such specialized space-science infrastructure.
NITs are autonomous public technical universities governed by the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007, and are classified as Institutes of National Importance. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Government of India provides oversight and funding for major scientific infrastructure projects across these technical institutes.
Inauguration date: September 22, 2026
Observatory name: NIT-Srinagar Observatory for Astronomy and Astrophysics (NSOAA)
Telescope type: 14-inch aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain
Significance: First NIT in India to host a campus-based dedicated astronomical observatory
B is correct тАФ NIT Srinagar became the first NIT in India to inaugurate a campus-based astronomical observatory on September 22, 2026.
Remember that while IIT Kanpur previously operated a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, NIT Srinagar is distinguished as the first NIT to launch such a dedicated campus observatory, aligning with India's broader push for space education.