The Indian Planetary Science Association (IPSA) organized the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference (IPSC-2023) during March 22-24, 2023 at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. The conference highlighted the recent advances in Planetary Sciences, results and studies related to the atmosphere, surface and interior of planetary bodies in the solar system, including planetary processes and early solar system evolution.

The conference was inaugurated by Shri S. Somanath, Secretary DOS & Chairman ISRO and Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman PRL Council of Management on March 22, 2023. The Key-Note address was delivered by Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar where he emphasized generating human resources for efficient utilization of space science and planetary data. In his inaugural talk on "Indian Capabilities for Space Science and Planetary Exploration", Shri S. Somanath recollected the significance of scientific outcomes from Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Mars Orbiter Mission, and AstroSat and the interest they created in the community. He endorsed the capability of Indian researchers to build complex scientific instruments. Outlining the Science in the offing through upcoming missions, such as Chandrayaan-3, and Aditya L1 he urged enhanced participation of academia for complete utilization of the outcomes ad early publications. He briefed the missions being discussed, like, Venus Mission, Mars Landing Mission, LuPEX, DISHA, and XPoSAT.

The IPSC-2023 was attended by about 225 delegates from different parts of the country representing various institutions, both academic and research, as well as universities and colleges. A few participants from the industry also attended the IPSC-2023. Around 130 research papers covering various domains of planetary science were presented in 9 different sessions during the three-day conference. The topics include the Lunar science and exploration results from missions, Surface and atmospheric processes on Mars and Venus, Payload development and instrumentation, Studies on solar system processes, Meteorites & small bodies, Astrobiology, Astrochemistry and Exoplanets. The deliberations included around 60 oral and invited and 70 poster presentations.

As a prelude to the IPSC 2023, a two-day workshop was organized by PRL, where 50 students of M.Sc., M.Tech., and B.Tech. from 50 different institutions were selected and imparted training on different aspects of planetary science and exploration, along with hands-on experience. IPSC-2023 was concluded with a discussion and feedback session with the participants. Early Career Researcher Awards were presented to seven young researchers during the concluding session.

The inaugural function and the presentations are archived at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf-tBT7UTx4&t=77s