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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal AP Singh with four Gaganyatris during the felicitation ceremony in New Delhi on August 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday (August 24, 2025) praised Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla, P.B. Nair, Ajit Krishnan and Angad Pratap, who are part of India’s maiden human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, as “gems of the country and pioneers of national aspirations”. He further said Group Captain Shukla’s recent space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) marked a new chapter in “self-reliant India”.“We do not see space only as a field of research, but as the future of tomorrow’s economy, security, energy, and humanity. We have already marked our presence from Moon to Mars, and today, the nation stands fully prepared for missions like Gaganyaan,” he said at the South Block, where he felicitated Group Captain Shukla and the other Gaganyaan astronauts. He also held discussions with them about Gaganyaan and their experiences so far.INTERACTIVE: India’s space journeyMr. Singh said India’s space programme is a reflection of national aspirations and global vision, citing the successes of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. He added that space-derived technologies, from communication satellites to weather monitoring and disaster management, are now delivering services to every part of the country. “In the coming times, space mining, deep space exploration, and planetary resources will redefine the course of human civilisation,” he noted.Commending Group Captain Shukla for his successful mission to the ISS as part of the Axiom Mission-4, the Defence Minister praised his determination and courage. He highlighted how Group Captain Shukla had completed a two-and-a-half year training programme in just two-and-a-half months, calling it a testament to his dedication and the spirit of India. “His extraordinary feat is not just India’s pride, but proof of humanity’s collective progress,” he said.Mr. Singh also described Group Captain Shukla as a symbol of civil-military fusion, noting that while he represents the Indian Air Force, his journey to space was on behalf of all humankind. He credited the Institute of Aerospace Medicine for preparing astronauts physically, mentally, and psychologically, calling Group Captain Shukla “a shining embodiment” of its success.The astronaut shared his space experiences during the event, which was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh.READ MORE Published – August 24, 2025 11:56 am IST
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