September 25, 2025
Solar system studies have seen a remarkable growth in the last few decades, due to advances in space technology, observational capabilities and computational technologies. This has enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the diversity of complex processes across the Solar system. Planetary exploration provides opportunities to find clues to the origin and evolution of planetary systems and how they are different or similar to each other. In this connection, the Indian government has approved the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), aiming to explore and study Venus, the sister planet of the Earth. The mission, to be conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space, will involve a spacecraft orbiting Venus to study its surface, atmosphere, and the Sun-Venus interaction. Annexure-1 presents a table listing the payloads for the VOM. In order to promote, strengthen and to increase the scientific user community for the Venus Orbiter Mission, ISRO invites researchers through the AO call for promoting the analysis and modelling of archival data available for the planet Venus.
Novel research proposals are invited under the following research areas of interest
This Announcement of Opportunity (AO) call is solicited from interested scientists within India for utilizing the archival data available from the Venus missions. The payloads recommended for VOM is listed in Table.1 in Annexure-1. This AO call is addressed to all institutions in India. Those sending proposals may be currently involved in atmospheric or planetary exploration studies.
The complete proposal form to be forwarded by Head of the Institutions along with the seal. Two hardcopies of the form to be sent to the following address:
Director, Science Programme Office, ISRO Head Quarters, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bangalore-560094
The soft copy of the proposal to be mailed to venus_AO[at]isro[dot]gov[dot]in with the subject Attn: Venus Science AO. Any proposal, received without the forwarding letter from Head of the Institutions, will not be considered.
Proposals could be submitted by individuals or a group of scientists and academicians belonging to national institutions, Universities, Colleges, planetaria and government organizations of India. Only those having a minimum remaining service of four years before superannuation are eligible to lead the project as PI. The proposals must be forwarded through the Head of the Institutions, with appropriate assurance for providing necessary facilities for carrying out the project under this AO programme.
In order to identify the most optimum suite of proposals, the proposers may be requested to interact with a review committee constituted by ISRO as and when required. The final selected proposals are expected to incorporate suggestions made by the review committee.
It is expected that project to be completed within 3 years. PIs are expected to present the results in a Venus science workshop to be conducted as and when announced. PIs are also encouraged to publish the results from these studies in national/international peer reviewed journals and present their results in national/international conferences/symposia.
The selected project proposals through this AO will be provided limited financial support towards meeting the salary of a research student, computational facility, contingencies and limited support to attend project meetings and workshops. The project duration is for the duration of three years starting from the release of the fund.
Any update or modifications to this AO will be reflected in the revised AO which will be posted on www.isro.gov.in under ‘Updates’. The proposers are requested to check the above URL periodically to keep themselves updated.
The Principal Investigator (PI) should submit the proposal in a format described in the following sections (Annexure-2&3).
The format for proposal includes a Declaration to be signed by the Principal Investigator and the Head of the Institution (Annexure-4).
Proposals should be limited to around 10 pages in length on standard A4 size paper, typed double-spaced and in the prescribed format. Two hardcopies of the proposal prepared as per the formats given in Annexure-2, Annexure -3 and Annexure-4 are to be sent to:
Director, Science Programme Office ISRO Head Quarters, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road, Bangalore-560094
The duly signed soft copies of the proposal to be mailed to venus_AO[at]isro[dot]gov[dot]in with the subject Attn: Venus Science AO.
The main part of the proposal should contain a summary (briefing the objectives, methodology, deliverables of the project and the time schedule), followed by a detailed description of the objectives and the scientific rationale being addressed. The data requirement and the analysis methods should be highlighted. The methodology or approach to be followed, the expected results of the project must be presented. Targeted schedule for various milestones of the project must be indicated including the completion date.
It is expected that the project will be completed within 3 years. PIs are expected to present the results in a science workshop to be conducted as and when announced. PIs are also expected to publish the results from these studies in national/international peer reviewed journals and present their results in national/international conferences/symposia.
As described in section 9.2, the proposal should identify and utilize archived data from space science missions to Venus for the proposed study. The project proposals should clearly indicate the study area and the data sets required.
The project may involve joint efforts involving many individuals from the concerned institution(s). However, only one PI will be recognized. Other participants could be designated as “Co-Investigators”. PI/Co-Investigator shall provide Curriculum Vitae (CV) referring to educational qualifications, the work carried out in the related areas and list of recent publications. The PI is responsible for ensuring timely completion of the project. The assurance of necessary administrative and financial spending support to PI and Co-Investigators from Head of the Institution(s) is a must. Every project can appoint a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) as per RESPOND norms . He/ She may be encouraged to take up Ph.D.
Describe available computer facilities, image analysis software packages and other equipment in the home institution or in sister concerns that are accessible for the project.
It is proposed that a workshop may be conducted at the end of every year for the purpose of reviewing the progress of the AO projects and sharing the results with the Venusian scientific community. PIs of each project are expected to attend these workshops and brief about the progress of the respective project.
Deadline for submission of proposals: November 15, 2025.
Annexure-1 567 KB
Annexure-2 345 KB
Annexure-3 374 KB
Annexure-4 344 KB