New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS): Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday released the first-ever Hindi atlas on Mars Orbiter Mission and said the language could help spread awareness on space missions in the country.

"Even though India's achievements in space missions are being appreciated the world over, Hindi language can serve as a medium for spreading further awareness within the country about recent space missions, particularly the Mars Orbiter Mission," he said.

Singh, who holds the portfolios of personnel, public grievances, pensions, atomic energy and space, said the fully indigenous Mars Orbiter Mission provided useful information, which was shared with even the most advanced nations of the world.

He said that promotion of Hindi as a medium of instruction in scientific departments like space technology and atomic energy would provide the best of the young scientific minds in India an opportunity to contribute even if they did not know English language.

The minister appreciated the efforts of both the department of space as well as department of atomic energy for coming up with literature, including periodicals and booklets, in Hindi for popularising various projects and programmes undertaken by them.