Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned after his historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Prime Minister interacted with the astronaut at his official residence in New Delhi and discussed his experiences in space, India’s progress in science and technology, and the country’s ambitious human spaceflight programme—Gaganyaan.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed a wide range of subjects including his experiences in space, progress in science & technology as well as India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat.”
Group Captain Shukla became the first Indian to reach the ISS in June this year. His 18-day mission, which concluded on July 15, included several experiments conducted in collaboration with ISRO. After post-mission rehabilitation in the US, he returned to India on Sunday.
The Prime Minister had also referred to Shukla’s mission in his Independence Day address, calling it an inspiration for a billion dreams and a major step in advancing India’s space ambitions. He reaffirmed India’s goal of launching the Gaganyaan mission and establishing its own space station in the future.
Earlier in the day, Parliament honoured Group Captain Shukla. The session, led by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, described his achievement as a new chapter in India’s space journey. Lawmakers said the mission not only strengthened homegrown science but also inspired young Indians to pursue careers in space and technology.
