  A review of modernization and growth of ground based optical and
near-infrared astrophysical observational facilities in the globe attributed to
the recent technological developments in optomechanical, electronics and
computer science areas is presented. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and speckle
and adaptive ground based imaging have obtained images better than 0.1 arc sec
angular resolution bringing the celestial objects closer to us at least by a
factor of 10 during the last two decades. From the light gathering point of
view, building of large size (more than 5 meter aperture) ground based optical
and nearinfrared telescopes based on latest technology have become economical
in recent years. Consequently, in the world, a few 8-10 meter size ground-based
optical and near-infrared telescopes are being used for observations of the
celestial objects, three 25-40 meter size are under design stage and making of
a ~ 100 meter size telescope is under planning stage. In India, the largest
sized optical and near-infrared telescope is the modern 3.6-meter located at
Devasthal, Nainital. However, the existing Indian moderate size telescopes
equipped with modern backend instruments have global importance due to their
geographical location. Recently, participation of India in the Thirty Meter
Telescope (TMT) project has been approved by the Government of India.

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics;High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena