News in Shorts: 12 February 2026

New Astronomical Telescopes of India

Context: The Union Budget 2026 sanctioned two new telescopes and an upgrade to an existing facility in Ladakh, boosting India’s observational astronomy capacity.

Key Highlights of Proposed Projects

National Large Solar Telescope (NLST)

• NLST is a 2-metre aperture solar observatory to be established in the Merak region near Pangong Tso, Ladakh.
• It will operate in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Objective: To study solar dynamics, magnetism and space-weather processes in visible and near-infrared wavelengths.

National Large Optical–Near Infrared Telescope (NLOT):

• NLOT is a 13.7-metre aperture segmented-mirror telescope which will be built in Hanle, Ladakh.
• Once Operational, it will be one of the world’s largest telescopes operating in the electromagnetic spectrum’s optical-infrared wavelengths.
• It will enable deep-space observations to study stellar evolution, galaxies and the origins of the universe using optical and near-infrared bands.
• Once built and operational, NLST will serve as India’s third ground-based solar observatory.
  • Currently, the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (in Tamil Nadu, established 1899) and the Udaipur Solar Observatory (in Rajasthan, established 1975) are operational

Upgrade of Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

• The existing telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle, will be upgraded to enhance imaging sensitivity and data quality.
• Strategic Location: Hanle Dark Sky Reserve
  • Hanle is India’s only Dark Sky Reserve which offers minimal light pollution and high-altitude atmospheric clarity, making it ideal for precision astronomy.

Significance of Observatories

• Advancement in Solar and Space Research: NLST, alongside ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission, will strengthen India’s capabilities in heliophysics and space-weather forecasting.
• Boost to Deep-Space Exploration: The optical–infrared telescope will improve India’s ability to conduct frontier research on cosmic origins and exoplanets.
• Global Scientific Leadership: These projects position India as a major astronomy hub in the Global South and enhance international collaboration in astrophysics.

About Electromagnetic Spectrum

• The electromagnetic spectrum is the complete range of electromagnetic radiation arranged according to wavelength or frequency, from long-wavelength radio waves to short-wavelength gamma rays.
• Different Ranges: It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.
• Visible light is only a small portion detectable by the human eye; infrared detects heat, while ultraviolet and X-rays reveal high-energy processes.
• Role in Telescopes: Telescopes observe different bands of the spectrum to study stars, galaxies, exoplanets and cosmic radiation, enabling multi-wavelength astronomy and deeper understanding of the universe.

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025

Context: India has improved its position on the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, rising to 91st from 96th in the previous year.

About the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025

• The CPI ranks 182 countries/territories based on perceived levels of public sector corruption.
• Released By: Transparency International.
• Scale: Measures on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• Methodology: The CPI is based on expert assessments and business surveys; it measures perceptions of public-sector corruption, not actual corruption events.
• Top performers (Score):
  1. Denmark (89),
  2. Finland (88), and
  3. Singapore (84). Only 5 countries now score above 80 (down from 12 a decade ago).
• Low performers (most corrupt): Bottom ranks include South Sudan and Somalia, both registering nine points, followed by Venezuela (10).
• Global average: Dropped to a new low of 42 (first decline in over a decade), with more than two-thirds (122 countries) scoring below 50.
  • Only five countries scored above 80, showing that very few public sectors are perceived as largely clean.
  • Some countries show progress (31 have significantly improved over time), but stagnation or decline dominates.
• Key trends: Corruption is worsening globally due to declining leadership in fighting it, even in established democracies.
• Broader issues highlighted: Weak institutions, democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space/media freedom, threats to justice/rule of law, and rising inequality/public service failures fuel corruption.

India’s Position in CPI 2025

• Rank: 91st (improved by 5 places from 96th in 2024)
• Score: 39 (up by 1 point from the previous year)
• The report also lists India among countries dangerous for journalists reporting on corruption, with a high share of journalist killings occurring in low-scoring countries.

Exercise Vayushakti-26

Context: The Indian Air Force will conduct Exercise Vayushakti-26 at Pokhran on 27 February 2026, showcasing full-spectrum combat capability in a simulated wartime scenario.

About Exercise Vayushakti-26

• Exercise Vayushakti is a major air combat drill of the Indian Air Force (IAF) demonstrating its offensive, defensive and multi-domain operational capabilities in a realistic battlefield environment.
• Frequency: Started in 1954 is a triennial exercise once every three years with some gaps.
  • The last edition was Exercise Vayushakti-24 held in Feb 2024.
• Vayushakti-26 Venue: Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, near India’s western border.
• Participants: Over 100 aircraft from Western and South Western Air Commands will participate, including Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Tejas, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, C-130J, C-17, Apache, Chinook, ALH, LCH and RPAs.
  • Advanced systems such as Akash, SpyDer, SRLMs and Counter-UAS will also be deployed.
• Focus Areas: The drill will simulate wartime conditions with real-time monitoring through the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).
  • It will highlight airspace dominance, precision strikes, loitering munitions, drone warfare and network-centric operations.
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities will also be demonstrated.

Significance

Vayushakti-26 reaffirms the IAF’s role as India’s first responder, strengthens deterrence near the western frontier and showcases indigenous defence capabilities under Aatmanirbhar Bharat, reflecting lessons from Operation Sindoor.

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