MSV-2035 Astronomy Document - Inside Design - FINAL - FINAL

observing facilities. Setting up a national computing facility that caters to the needs of all the mega science projects will yield best results with optimumutilisation of resources. It is important to build a community with expertise in astronomical instrumentation, that can build large, high-precision instruments.As observatory-class facilities run for several decades, their continued relevance and success depend on instrument upgrades. It is important for the Indian community to be in a position to propose and build instruments with evolving technologies in the coming decades. An inclusive growth of human resources is essential for optimal use of the future facilities. While the past decade has seen good growth in the number of astronomers as well as the scientific output, there clearly is a need for enhancement and increase in the number of organisations where research and teaching in A&A are undertaken. We especially need to expand beyond research institutes and centrally funded institutions like IISERs and IITs and ensure increased presence ofA&Ain universities and colleges. Involvement of mega projects in developing modules for astronomy, physics and technical courses in colleges and universities will help familiarise students across the country with the science and technology behind large projects, and will also help attract them to A&A. The technical modules can range from data science to prototypes for structural and electronics aspects. Translation of scientific outcomes to evolve technologies for societal benefits and dissemination of scientific outcomes should be an important and integral part of all mega science endeavours. Priorities: This document also prioritises the proposed projects in different wave bands. The highest priority for funding in the next decade should be accorded to the threeA&Amega projects (TMT, SKA and LIGO-INDIA) already identified by the funding agencies. These observatories (in particular SKA andTMT) are expected to be in operation for at least 3more decades. Indian optical astronomers have proposed a 10-meter class National Large Optical-IR Telescope (NLOT). This will fill the gap between the existing 3.6-meter telescope and the TMT, and enable efficient use of the TMT. It is important to support such a project to utilise the expertise gained from our participation in the TMT and enhance the technical capabilities of the Indian astronomy community and the industries. Solar astronomers have proposed a 2-meter National Large Solar Telescope (NLST). This will be the largest solar telescope in the country.We recommend this as the highest priority project in solar astronomy. It is important to enhance the sensitivity of GMRT (eGMRT) to evolve this facility as a part of global network at low radio frequencies. There is a need to enhance our capabilities in multi-wavelength observations, expanding to the sub-mm and high energy ɤ-ray regimes. Funding should also be made available for developing new-technology or proof-of-the-concept projects as well as detailed proposals for newprojects. • • • • • • • • • • Astronomy & Astrophysics 10 MEGA SCIENCE VISION-2035