Chhattisgarh's First Digital Planetarium | 15 Jul 2024

Why in News?

According to the sources, Chhattisgarh's first digital planetarium being established in the insurgency-affected Dantewada district, with support from the Government of India.

Key Points

  • The initiative has been taken by the district administration of Dantewada with the help of the Ministry of Culture and National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).
    • The plan to establish a digital planetarium in Karli, Dantewada, will soon begin under the Ministry of Culture’s Science and Culture Promotion Scheme, 2021. 
    • The district administration requested support for the planetarium, and the proposal for full financial assistance under Category III (population less than 5 lakh) has been approved.
  • The initiative encompasses various elements such as educational advancement, scientific consciousness, cultural and societal progress, as well as engaging audiovisual experiments.
  • A budget of Rs 7.95 crore has been approved for the construction of the planetarium. 
    • Nestled amidst dense forests, this digital planetarium will be a major tourism initiative.
    • It will play a vital role in shaping the future of local children, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in space science.

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)

  • In 1978, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) was established as a central coordinating agency for national science museums.
  • It is an autonomous Science & Technology institution under the Ministry of Culture jointly with the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
  • NCSM is the world’s largest network of science centres and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella.