- According to the Union Minister of State for Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu will be the first city in North India to get a full-fledged Space Technology Research Centre, devoted to research, academics and post-graduation study.
- The Centre will function under the aegis of the Central University Jammu.
- In addition to Jammu, the other town selected for opening a Space Technology Research Centre is in the Northeast in Tripura, where it would function under the aegis of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Agartala.
- This was disclosed on the occasion of the beginning of year-long “Sarabhai Centenary” programmes of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), starting from August 12, that is, the 99th birth anniversary of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the first Chairman of ISRO and the founding father of India’s Space Programme.
- As per the Union Minister, Dr Vikram Sarabhai always insisted on ISRO playing a meaningful role “nationally” and said it was a vindication that during the four years of the Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government has succeeded in extending the Space related academic and research programmes to remote areas, which earlier had little exposure to the study of Space Technology.
- The Centres of Space Technology at Jammu and Tripura will offer a new opening and an opportunity for scholars and youngsters who have aptitude for Space science, to explore a new career and research option.
