Is astrophysics a good course in India? If yes, then what are job areas in this specialization especially in isro?And also what does astrophysicist role in isro and in its space missions?

Astrophysics is a subject that is taken by many Indian students. Many institutions within the country offer students with the postgraduate level courses in Astronomy or astrophysics. The qualification required to join this program is a pass in the graduate level. Students must have taken physics as one of the subjects. More details about the scope of astrophysics are given below.

There are now many top quality institutes where astrophysics is the primary or a major target.

1. IUCCA, Pune
2. IIA, Bangalore
3. GMRT (part of TIFR) adjacent to IUAA, Pune.
4. Main TIFR, Mumbai, has an extensive program on X-ray, Infrared astronomy, Gamma Ray Astronomy and Partly Cosmic Rays.
5. Almost all the IIESRs have major astrophysics
6. RRI, Bangalore
7. Many IITS have astrophysics research opportunities
8. ISRO is for Space Missions but often work in tandem with various institutes.

Once students have completed all their studies, they can get jobs with top firms within India or overseas. Aspirants can also look forward for a job as Research Scientists with Institutions involved in Research. Jobs are available for astrophysicists with organizations such as:

Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR (Pune)

Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad

Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore

Space Science Centre, ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai

It is also possible for candidates to get jobs with organizations such as the Bangalore Amateur Astronomers (ABAA). The best thing about a career in astrophysics is that one will get the opportunity to travel to distant places and take part in international seminars as well as conventions. They will have the chance to meet many famous people in the world of Astronomy.

To be honest, in ISRO the astrophysicist has no role! Space agencies are responsible for developing and deploying technologies for space-based projects. Some of these projects can be for astrophysics research, and thus the scientific proposal and instrument design sees collaborations between space agencies and astrophysicists. But space agencies are not responsible for the research work done in astrophysics, which is done by astrophysicists. ISRO as of now is focussing on development of space technologies, and collaborates with astrophysicists in various institutes like TIFR, IIA, IUCAA, IISc, IISERs, etc., as and when required. Thus, it does not need to employ astrophysicists itself except for some very niche roles. Hope this helps.