India, US signed MoU for setting up LIGO observatory

                On 31 March 2016, India and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on setting up Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in India. The MoU was signed between India’s Department of Atomic Energy and the US National Science Foundation (NSF). It was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington. The deal was signed a month after the Union Cabiner approved the construction of LIGO interferometer. The Cabinet on 17 February 2016 had approved 1200 crore rupees for the LIGO project. The Prime Minister described the LIGO project as a great example of India-US scientific collaboration and said the success of this project could well inspire an entire young generation of Indian scientists. Besides, after the signing event, the Prime Minister met Indian scientists working at the US based KIGO in Washington and invited them to visit India and ignite the younger generation to take up the study of science.