ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
1.Bharat’s timekeeping stretches back into the mists of prehistory. This conference will be focused on the knowledge of time (Kaala jnana) and timekeeping (Kala ganana) of Bharat and the world.
2.The main goal will be to bring the attention of the world to the Indian traditions of timekeeping and the pivotal role of Ujjain in the traditions of timekeeping not only for Bharat but for the entire world. The world used Ujjain as a reference point until two centuries ago.
3.Various methods of timekeeping and astronomical observations, Vedanga and Siddhanta Jyotisha will be discussed. Methods of Panchanga, observational astronomy and the need for reconciliation of errors in various panchangas will be discussed by scholars. The influence of time and the evolution of various important activities such as agriculture, navigation and development of culture with time will also be discussed.
Conference Objectives
Revival of Ujjain as Meridian of the world
Promise of the Space Economy for Viksit Bharat
Latest advances in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Indian traditions of Kala ganana and Khagol vignan
Space Science
EXPECTED SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS
- Prominent national and international thinkers and experts
- Academicians
- Scientists and traditional scholars of Jyotisha and Khagol vigyan
- Research scholars
- Industry Leader in space science
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
- Scientists
- Academicians
- Industries/ Startups
- Institutions
- Researchers
- Common Citizens
Pre-conference Events
| S.no. | City | Organization | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi | Indraprasth Vigyan Bharati & Indian National Science Academy (INSA), Delhi | 24 Feb, 2026 |
| 2 | Kashi | Vedic Vigyan Kendra, Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi & Purvi Uttar Pradesh Vigyan Bharati, Uttar Pradesh. | 9 Mar, 2026 |
| 3 | Puri | Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri | 10 Mar, 2026 |
| 4 | Ujjain | Taramandal Parishar, M.P. Council of Science & Technology, Ujjain & Vikram University, Ujjain | 18 Mar, 2026 |
| 5 | Bengaluru | Jain University, Bengaluru | 23 Mar, 2026 |
| Associate Events and Competitions | National Competitions to make astronomical instruments for observational astronomy. |
| Teaching observational astronomy and panchanga to students (as per NEP 2020) | |
| Workshops on Khagol and Space Science |
Conference Schedule
| Date | Program |
|---|---|
| Day 0 April 2, 2026 | Pre-conference Workshop on Astronomical Instrument Making. |
|
Day 1 April 3, 2026 |
Inauguration of the International Conference. |
| Session 1: What is Time? How was it measured ? The importance of Ujjain as the Meridian of the World. | |
| Session 2:Kaala Chakra: Involution and Evolution of Civilization in time and space. | |
| Parallel Session: Workshop on Khagol Vignan for students. | |
| Cultural Program Performance on Kaala and Mahakaala. | |
| Exhibitions | |
|
Day 2 April 4, 2026 |
Session 3:Space Economy for Vikasit Bharat: Space Technologies in the service of the Nation: Reinvigorating Prof. Dhawan’s vision for next century. Evolving private space sector in India and opportunities for youth. |
| Session 4: Space Sector as Shakti Vel : Space based strategies for the defence of Bharat. | |
|
Session 5: The Present and Future of Astronomy and Space Research in India (This session will be held at the Varahamihir Astronomical Observatory, Dongla approximately 35 km from Ujjain) |
|
| Parallel Session:Workshop on Space Science for Students, Poster, National Finals. | |
| Cultural Programs: Local Madhya Pradesh Artists | |
| Exhibitions | |
|
Day 3 April 5, 2026 |
Session 6: Advances in Astronomy and Astrophysics. |
| Session 7: Summary Reports by Panel Chairs & Mukta Chintan. | |
| Valedictory Ceremony |
Organizing Commettee
Patrons
Dr. Mohan Yadav,
Hon'ble Chief Minister, MP
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan,
Hon’ble Minister of Education
Govt. of India
Mentors
Shri Suresh Soni
(Special Advisor)
Vicharak, Margdarshak & Samajsevi
Vicharak, Margdarshak & Samajsevi
Dr. Shekhar C. Mande
National President, Vijnana Bharati
Dr. V.K. Saraswat
Member, NITI Aayog, GOI
Dr. Shiv Kumar Sharma
National Organizing Secretary, Vijnana Bharati
Dr. Ajay Sood
Principal Scientific Advisor to GOI
Dr. V. Narayanan
Chairman, ISRO
Dr. Abhay Karandikar
Secretary, DST, GOI
Prof. Suhas S. Joshi
Director, IIT Indore
Dr. Samir V. Kamat
Chairman, DRDO
Prof. Somak Raychaudhury
Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University, Sonepat
Advisory
Dr. S. Somanath
Ex Chairman ISRO
Shri Praveen Ramadas
National Joint Organizing Secretary
Vijnana Bharati
Vijnana Bharati
Prof. Jayaram N. Chengalur
Director TIFR
Shri Vivekananda Pai
National Secretary General
Vijnana Bharati
Vijnana Bharati
Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi
VC, BHU, Varanasi
Shri Shriram Tiwari
Cultural Advisor to HCM MP
Prof. Gobardhan Das
Director, IISER, Bhopal
Dr. Satheesh Shenoi
Former Director, INCOIS
Shri Nilesh Desai
Director, SAC, ISRO, Ahmedabad
Shri Vivaswan Hebalkar
Kshetriya Sangathan Mantri
Madhya & Pashchim Prant,Vigyan Bharati
Madhya & Pashchim Prant,Vigyan Bharati
Dr. Prakash Chauhan
Director, NRSC, ISRO
Prof. Arpan Bhardwaj
VC, Vikram University, Ujjain
Prof. Dipankar Banerjee
VC IIST
Prof. Anil Bhardwaj
Director PRL
Dr. A.D. Choudhury
DG, NCSM, Kolkata
Shri M. Sankaran
Director URSC
Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta
Director, CSIR-NPL, New Delhi
Prof. Yashwant Gupta
Director NCRA
Academic Committee
Convener
Prof. Ganti S. Murthy
National Coordinator, IKS
Ministry of Education, New Delhi
Ministry of Education, New Delhi
Prof. Abhirup Datta
Dean R&D, IIT Indore
Dr. Arvind C. Ranade
Director, NIF, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Shri Brajesh Pandey
Executive Director, INSA
Dr. Tripta Thakur
VC, UTU Dehradun
Dr. Sudhir Bhadoria
Director, UIT, RGPV, Bhopal
Dr. Kailasa Rao
Director, SPA Bhopal
Dr. Rajiv Dixit
Vice Chairman, AIGGPA, Bhopal
Prof. Venkataraman
PMB Gujarati Science College, Indore
Organising Committee
Chairman
Dr. Anil Kothari
DG, MPCST, Bhopal
Prof. Neetesh Purohit
Director,SGSITS
Dr. Mukesh Kumar Mishra
Director, DTSS, Bhopal
Dr. Dilip Soni
MPSVV, Ujjain
Dr. Vivek Katare
ED, MPCST, Bhopal
Dr. Raman Solanki
Vikram University, Ujjain
Dr. Manoj Rathore
MPCST, Bhopal
Shri Harish Vyas
Vigyan Bharati
Shri Saket Singh Kaurav
Regional Science Centre Bhopal
Dr. Bhupesh Saxena
MPCST, Bhopal
Exhibition Committee
Convener
Dr. Vikas Shende
MPCST, Bhopal
Dr. K. Venkataraman
Gujarati Science College Indore
Dr. Sunil Garg
MPCST, Bhopal
Invited Speakers
Shri Suresh Soni
Vicharak, Margdarshak & Samajsevi
Dr. V. K. Saraswat
Member, NITI Aayog, GOI
Dr. Shekhar C. Mande
National President,
Vijnana Bharati
Vijnana Bharati
Dr. Ajay Sood
Principal Scientific Advisor to GOI
Dr. Shiv Kumar Sharma
National Organizing Secretary,
Vijnana Bharati
Vijnana Bharati
Dr. V. Narayanan
Chairman, ISRO
Dr. Kalasailvi
Director General, CSIR & Secretary DSIR
Shri Shivkumar Kalyanaraman
Kalyanaraman CEO, (ANRF)
Prof. Somak Raychaudhury
VC, Ashoka University,
Sonepat
Sonepat
Dr. Abhay Karandikar
Secretary, DST, GOI
Dr. Adam G. Riess
Professor, Johns Hopkins
University, USA
University, USA
Dr. Brian P. Schmidt
VC (Former), Australian
National University, Australia
National University, Australia
Dr. Saul Perlmutter
Astrophysicist, University of
California, Berkeley, USA
California, Berkeley, USA
Dr. Pawan Goenka
Chairman, IN-SPACe
Dr. Samir V. Kamat
Chairman, DRDO
Shri Nilesh Desai
Director, SAC, ISRO
Dr. Sudhir Mishra
BrahMos Aerospace
Dr. Satheesh Reddy
Former Chairman, DRDO
Dr. Prakash Chauhan
Director, NRSC, ISRO
Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam
Director, IIA
Prof. Ramasubramaniam
IIT Bombay
Prof. Dipankar Banerjee
VC, IIST
Prof. T. V. Bharat
IIT Guwahati
Prof. Subhash Kak
Regents Professor,
OSU, Stillwater
OSU, Stillwater
Shri Subba Rao Pavuluri
Chairman, Ananth
Technologies
Technologies
Conference Secretariat
Convener
Dr. G. D. Bairagi
MPCST, Bhopal
Sh. Tasneem Habib
MPCST, Bhopal
Dr. Vikas Shende
MPCST, Bhopal
JANTAR MANTAR
INDIA’S LEGACY OF ASTRONOMICAL BRILLIANCE
Samrat Yantra (Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh)
The Samrat Yantra is a massive sundial designed to measure local time with remarkable accuracy. Built using precise geometric calculations, it reflects the advanced understanding of astronomy and timekeeping in ancient India. The shadow of its central gnomon moves steadily to indicate time.
Jai Prakash Yantra (New Delhi) – Mapping the Celestial Sky
The Jai Prakash Yantra consists of hemispherical structures used to observe the position of celestial bodies. Astronomers could step inside the instrument to track stars, planets and constellations, showcasing hands-on observational techniques from centuries ago.
Ram Yantra (Jaipur, Rajasthan) – Measuring Altitude and Azimuth
The Ram Yantra is an open cylindrical structure used to calculate the altitude and direction of celestial objects. Its symmetrical design allowed astronomers to achieve accurate measurements, highlighting India’s sophisticated approach to observational astronomy.
Jantar Mantar (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
The Jantar Mantar at Varanasi, built under the patronage of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, reflects the city’s long-standing tradition of astronomy and timekeeping. Situated near the banks of the River Ganga, this observatory was used to study celestial movements, calculate time and support calendar making practices.
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