How to become an astrophysics in india

respected sir,

Astronomy is the science which deals with the study of heavenly bodies. It considers

(a) their motions, both real and apparent, and the laws which govern those motions;

(b) their forms, dimensions, masses, and surface features;

(c) their nature, constitution, and physical condition;

(d) the effects which they produce upon one another by their attractions and radiations;

(e) their probable past history and future development.

Astronomy is necessarily an observational science rather than an experimental one. The discussions and interpretation of observations employs the use of mathematical analysis, often of the most advanced type. Celestial bodies and celestial environment provide natural laboratories for studying physical phenomena in extreme conditions which are seldom realised in our terrestrial environment.Physical and mathematical theories are thus stretched to the limit to provide explanations for the celestial phenomena that we observe.

Modern astronomy requires the use of most modern and advanced technologies, e.g. in fabrication of modern telescopes, in buildingimaging and spectrscopic equipment to observe and analyse radiation received from the celestial objects. It needs fast computers, state-of-the-art software to handle data and process images, it needs stable space platforms to observe radiation otherwise blocked by the Earth's atmosphere.

Opportunities for Astronomy & Astrophysics study are available in the universities and autonomous research institutions.

Universities that offer Astronomy & Astrophysics specialization at M.Sc., and in some cases, a Ph.D. programme are

Punjabi University, Patiala, Osmania University - Full M.Sc. Course in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Allahabad, Bangalore, Burdwan, Kolkata, Delhi, Gauhati, Gorakhpur, Gujarat, Indian Institute of Science, Jadavpur, Kashmir, Kumaon, Lucknow, Madurai Kamaraj University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Pune, Punjab, Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Roorkee, Swami Ramanand Teerth University, Nanded.

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

IIA has a full-time Ph.D. programme for which the students are selected through an entrance exam, followed by an interview. The exam is conducted in November every year and the is advertised around September. Students are also selected through Joint Entrance Screening Test, conducted annually in the month of February, followed by an interview. The advertisement appears in all leading newspapers. Posters are sent to various institutions, universities and colleges all over India. Highly motivated candidates with a M.Sc. degree in Physics / Maths or M.Tech. in Engineering & exceptional candidates with B.E. /B.Tech. degree and a good background in physics are eligible to apply for admission to the Ph.D. programme.

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA)

IUCAA has a regular Ph.D. programme for which applications are invited every spring from students who either possess an M.Sc. in Physics / Applied Mathematics / Astronomy / Computer Science or a Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or technology with adequate background in physics and mathematics or are expected to qualify for these degrees. Selection is made in July through a written test and an interview. Selected candidate is required to clear the CSIR / UGC-NET / GATE exam within one year of admission to the Ph.D. if he/she has not done so already.

Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST)

Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is conducted at an all India level every year in the month of February for admission to Ph.D. programme. The advertisement appears in all the leading newspapers and posters are sent to various institutions, colleges, universities all over India inviting applications. The institutions participating in this programme are : Harish- Chandra Research Institute (Formerly Mehta Research Institute of Mathematics & Mathematical Physics); Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore; Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubhaneswar; Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar; Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune; Inter-University Consortium for DAE Facilities (IUC-DAEF), Indore; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore; National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore; National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Pune; Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad; Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore; S N Bose Centre for Basic Natural Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata; The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc.), Chennai. The pattern for JEST exam consists of multiple choice objective-type questions, with negetive marks for wrong answers. Candidates who are successful in the entrance exam are called for an interview and depending upon their performance, are selected as Junior Research Fellows for Ph.D. programme.

Joint Astronomy Programme

This course is of one year duration, conducted at Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bangalore, jointly by IISc., IIA, RRI, TIFR. M.Sc., B.E., & B.Tech. degree holders are invited to apply in the spring of the year for selection in July through an interview. After the completion of the course, candidates are offered the opportunity for completing their Ph.D. at one of the participating institute.

Autonomous Research Institutes

These offer a Ph.D. programme after a selection through interviews, usually in July every year. Advertisements appear in spring. The institutions are : RRI, NCRA, TIFR, PRL, UPSO, ISRO.

Astrophysics in India today is booming so to speak with a handsome number of institutes catering to this field:
1. Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) in Pune serve as dedicated centres for study.
2. Now getting limelight is the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) in Bangalore.
3. Tata Institute of Fundamental research (TIFR. NCRA is also a part of this) is in Mumbai and caters to all branches of Physics.
3. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital: Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Atmospheric Physics (ARIES) in Nainital gives more reasons than just Astrophysics to be admitted to.
4. Other institutes like IISc Bangalore may not be only dedicated to astrophysics but do research on physics as a whole with a department dedicated to Astrophysics.

You may search for these institutes on Google. All have pretty decent websites where you will get lot of information.

Most of these institutes also run smaller courses esp. in summers which you can opt for if you want to try your hand at knowing what it is like.

Coming to the selection process, it is handled via an examination called JEST (Joint Entrance Screening Test).