The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has laid the foundation stone for an Advanced Radar Research Facility at Chandrapur, near Guwahati in Assam, to strengthen India’s ability to monitor satellites and other objects in space. The foundation stone was laid by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on September 21, 2026, in the presence of ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. The facility is being developed under Project NETRA, India’s initiative to improve space surveillance and protect vital space assets. Equipped with advanced radar systems and optical telescopes, it will help track satellites and other objects orbiting Earth, strengthening India’s ability to monitor space activity and assess potential risks to its space infrastructure. Beyond space surveillance, the centre will support research into radar technology, atmospheric science, cloud patterns and weather monitoring. The first cloud research radar is expected to be installed by February 2027, which could improve the understanding of rainfall patterns and help strengthen weather forecasting and disaster preparedness in the region. The project is also expected to create opportunities for scientific research, innovation and skill development in Assam and the wider Northeast, giving students and researchers greater access to advanced space science facilities.