Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Laboratory, India (LIGO)

The Government of India has given In-Principle approval for Construction and Operation of Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Laboratory - India (LIGO) in India in collaboration with LIGO Laboratory, United States of America. This is the third observatory identical to the two LIGO observatories in USA.

An MoU has been signed between DAE-DST of India and National Science Foundation of USA on 30 March, 2016. India partners with the United States of America (USA) under an Memorandum of Understanding signed between Department of Atomic Energy & Department of Science & Technology and National Science Foundation of USA to set up a LIGO Detector in India as part of a Global Network of Gravitational Wave Detectors under the LIGO-India Project.

LIGO-India Observatory is scheduled to be operational in 2024.

Of the various sites surveyed for this project, the site in Hingoli District of Maharashtra has been selected as the primary site and the process of acquiring land for the project is in advanced stage.

Funding

Government of India accorded In-principle approval for LIGO-India Project at an estimated cost of Rs. 1260 crore. Subsequent to the In-principle approval, Department of Atomic Energy sanctioned Rs. 75 crore for pre-investment activities.