In which location was Eastern India's first astronomical

Solution

Eastern India's first astronomical observatory was inaugurated in January 2025 atop Panchet Hill in the Garpanchkot area of Purulia district, West Bengal. Established by the Department of Science and Technology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, this observatory represents the sixth astronomical observatory in India, joining existing facilities in Ladakh, Nainital (Uttarakhand), Mount Abu (Rajasthan), Girbani Hills (Pune), and Kavalur (Tamil Nadu). Named after renowned physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, celebrated for his contributions to quantum mechanics and the development of Bose-Einstein statistics, the observatory was established by the Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS). Its location atop Panchet Hill was strategically chosen to minimize light pollution, creating optimal conditions for astronomical observations.