India has allocated ₹1,500 crore for its first mission to study Venus, marking a major step in the country’s expanding space exploration programme. The mission, known as Shukrayaan, will examine the atmosphere and geological features of the planet to understand how it may have influenced Earth over thousands of years.

Speaking to a delegation of journalists, Nilesh Desai, Director at the Indian Space Research Organisation in Ahmedabad, said the project has received financial approval from the Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Department of Space. Scientists have already begun preparatory work for the mission.

Desai noted that some lawmakers had questioned the ₹1,500 crore expenditure on a mission to Venus, a planet known for its dense atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid clouds. However, the government maintained that studying Venus would provide insights into planetary evolution and possible impacts on Earth.

According to scientists, a single day on Venus lasts about 243 Earth days, and the planet’s harsh atmospheric conditions make it one of the most challenging worlds to study.

Desai also highlighted that ISRO continues to collaborate with agencies such as NASA while working on multiple international space projects and future planetary missions.