Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel remotely launched Asia’s biggest telescope, the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), built with Belgian assistance. The telescope with a 3.6-metre-wide primary mirror located at Devasthal near Nainital in Uttarakhand.

• ARIES, the largest optical telescope of its kind in Asia, is a product of Indo-Belgian collaboration. It will be used to study star structures and magnetic field structures of stars.
• ARIES will be used to study star structures and magnetic field structures of stars.

Prime Minister Modi said “This product of Indo-Belgian collaboration is an inspiring example of what our partnership can achieve. The work is also afoot on other agreements in the areas of Information and Communication Technology, audio-visual production Tourism biotechnology and shipping and ports”. 

Did You Know?

• Belgium has legalised euthanasia in 2002, and gay marriage in 2003.
• Belgium became the world’s first country to ban cluster bombs, and second to ban forced marriages in 2006.
• Belgium was the world’s first country, along with Italy, to introduce electronic ID cards in March 2003. It will also be the first European country to issue e-ID’s to the entire population.
• Belgium was the first country in the world to issue electronic passports complying with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
• Belgium is the country with the highest proportion of female ministers in the world (55% in 2000) and one of the earliest to have a female parliamentarian (in 1921).
• Belgium is one of the rare countries with compulsory education up to 18 years old (highest in the world).
• Belgium is one of the few countries worldwide with compulsory voting (and enforced).