PM Modi opens COSMOS Planetarium in Mysuru as Chief Minister raises funding issues

UPDATE - follow-up to PM Narendra Modi reaches Mysuru, inaugurates COSMOS planetarium | LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the COSMOS LED Dome Planetarium in Mysuru on November 13, 2026, calling it a new chapter in the country's scientific journey. Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in partnership with the University of Mysore on the foothills of Chamundi, the facility features a 15-metre tilted dome built with around 6,150 panels and 4.2 crore individual LEDs. It has a seating capacity for about 160 people and includes a Sky Theatre, exhibition halls, an astronomy museum and training facilities. The planetarium will initially screen a 12-minute introductory show titled 'Our Home, Our Cosmos' in English, Kannada and Hindi, alongside licensed productions named 'Cosmos Odyssey' and 'Voyager'.

Karnataka Demands and Projects

During the visit, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister outlining key state concerns and financial requests. The memorandum stated that Karnataka bears more than 80 percent of the financial burden for Bengaluru Metro projects despite the standard 50-50 partnership model, and sought a share of operational losses alongside faster project clearances. The Chief Minister also requested urgent approval for the proposed Red Line connecting Sarjapur and Hebbal, and permission to build double-decker infrastructure along Metro corridors. In addition, he sought ₹22,400.58 crore in National Disaster Response Fund assistance for drought relief across 226 taluks, urged the Centre to address sugarcane pricing demands, and asked for a review of the Kasturirangan Report regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas in the Western Ghats.

Context

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics is a premier autonomous research institution under the Department of Science and Technology, dedicated to research in astronomy, astrophysics and related fields. Such planetariums and science facilities are typically established to boost public interest and education in science, particularly among students and young minds.