Indo-US sign MoU for setting up LIGO observatory in India

India has signed a memorandum of Understanding with the United States on setting up Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in India. The MoU was signed by Secretary, Directorate of Atomic Energy and Director, National Science Foundation in the presence of Mr Modi on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington yesterday. 

The Prime Minister described the LIGO project as a great example of India-US scientific collaboration and said the success of this project could well inspire an entire young generation of Indian scientists.

He met Indian scientists working at the US based LIGO in Washington and invited them to



visit India and ignite the younger generation to take up the study of science. Nancy Agarwal was among the Indian scientists who met Mr Modi. Ms Agarwal said, the Prime Minister asked Indian origin LIGO scientists to visit Indian universities to ignite younger minds. 

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said, the Prime Minister commended the scientists and hoped that the setting of LIGO project in India would create curiosity among Indian youth to take up scientific research. He said the LIGO project in India would come up hopefully in the next five to seven years. The Cabinet on 17th of February this year approved Rs 1200 crores for the LIGO project.