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About

G. Waratkar is a key figure in time-domain astrophysics, specializing in the design and deployment of robotic telescopes for rapid transient detection. Their major contribution is the development of the GROWTH-India Telescope (GIT), a 70 cm robotic facility with a 0.7-degree field of view, established in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and IIT Bombay. This instrument, supported by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum and SERB, serves as India’s first dedicated robotic eye for time-domain studies, enabling real-time follow-up of gravitational wave counterparts, supernovae, and other fleeting cosmic events. Waratkar’s work has been instrumental in bridging India’s observational capabilities with global transient networks, as evidenced by the 31 citations for their 2022 paper detailing GIT’s design and early science. Their efforts have significantly enhanced the country’s role in multi-messenger astronomy, providing a critical tool for capturing the dynamic universe. Waratkar’s achievements underscore their leadership in building indigenous infrastructure for high-cadence sky monitoring, positioning them as a driving force in India’s growing contributions to time-domain astrophysics.