President Droupadi Murmu Confers Ashoka Chakra on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for ISS Mission

New Delhi: During the 77th Republic Day celebrations, President Droupadi Murmu conferred India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, upon Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force at Kartavya Path.

Group Captain Shukla etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS). He achieved this feat as the mission pilot during the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission in June 2025, marking India’s return to human spaceflight after a gap of 41 years since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.

The award recognises Shukla’s exceptional courage, dedication, and outstanding contribution to advancing India’s human space exploration capabilities. During his 18-day mission aboard the ISS, he conducted sophisticated scientific experiments, including those focused on microgravity research, food and nutrition studies, and other collaborative projects involving ISRO, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Axiom Space.

A seasoned fighter pilot and test pilot, Shubhanshu Shukla has logged over 2,000 hours of flying experience on multiple aircraft types, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 2006, he hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and was promoted to Group Captain in 2024.

The Axiom-4 mission, a privately organised flight by U.S.-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX, NASA, ESA, and ISRO, underscored India’s growing role in international space cooperation. Shukla’s participation has provided invaluable training and experience that will directly support India’s ambitious Gaganyaan programme and future endeavours, including the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

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