Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla at his official residence in Delhi. The astronaut, who became the first Indian aboard the International Space Station earlier this year, presented the prime minister with Axiom-4 mission patch and shared pictures the Earth clicked from International Space Station.
Modi welcomed Shukla, who was wearing an ISRO astronaut's jacket, with a warm hug and walked with him with his arm on the astronaut’s shoulder.
Shukla gifted the prime minister the mission patch of the Axiom-4 mission and the Indian tricolour that he had taken with him to the ISS. This Indian tricolour was fluttering in the background on the ISS when Shukla interacted with Modi on June 29.
The prime minister interacted with Shukla on June 29 in the initial days of the Axiom-4 mission that had docked at the ISS.
He had also asked the astronaut to document his learning, training and stay at the International Space Station that would help India's future missions, including Gaganyaan.
Modi took to X saying the two discussed a wide range of subjects including his experiences in space, progress in science & technology as well as India's ambitious Gaganyaan mission.
Special discussion in the Lok Sabha
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla highlighted the importance of Group Captain Shukla's achievements in completing a mission aboard the ISS and the critical role of the space program for the ' Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
"On this occasion, the (lower) house welcomes Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to India. His space mission and successful return are not merely about the success of the mission, but a matter of pride and inspiration for Indian citizens. Shukla's achievement is an inspiration for the youth," Birla said while addressing the Lok Sabha.
The lower House of the Parliament briefly took up discussion on India's First Astronaut Aboard the International Space Station - Critical Role of Space programme for 'Viksit Bharat By 2047'. Birla congratulated Shukla for his achievements.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, also spoke in about the achievements and hit out at the Opposition.
"The opposition has failed to congratulate the space experts and scientists for our space achievements. Your anger can be with the government. Your anger can be with the BJP and the NDA. But it is surprising that you can be angry with an astronaut. And that astronaut who, apart from being an astronaut, is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force. He does not belong to any political party," Singh said amid sloganeering by the opposition MPs.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised Shukla's mission.
"Since the Opposition is not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). It served as a stepping stone to our nation's own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan," Tharoor said.
Lucknow gears up for grand celebrations
Shukla's hometown, Lucknow has geared up to welcome the astronaut after the successful mission. City Mayor Sushma Kharakwal said that the local administration has moved a proposal to name the road leading to his home and a park in the city after him.
Shukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission, landed in the national capital in the early hours of Sunday.
Shukla was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.
Modi welcomed Shukla, who was wearing an ISRO astronaut's jacket, with a warm hug and walked with him with his arm on the astronaut’s shoulder.
Shukla gifted the prime minister the mission patch of the Axiom-4 mission and the Indian tricolour that he had taken with him to the ISS. This Indian tricolour was fluttering in the background on the ISS when Shukla interacted with Modi on June 29.
The prime minister interacted with Shukla on June 29 in the initial days of the Axiom-4 mission that had docked at the ISS.
He had also asked the astronaut to document his learning, training and stay at the International Space Station that would help India's future missions, including Gaganyaan.
Modi took to X saying the two discussed a wide range of subjects including his experiences in space, progress in science & technology as well as India's ambitious Gaganyaan mission.
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.@gagan_shux pic.twitter.com/RO4pZmZkNJ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2025
Special discussion in the Lok Sabha
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla highlighted the importance of Group Captain Shukla's achievements in completing a mission aboard the ISS and the critical role of the space program for the ' Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
"On this occasion, the (lower) house welcomes Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to India. His space mission and successful return are not merely about the success of the mission, but a matter of pride and inspiration for Indian citizens. Shukla's achievement is an inspiration for the youth," Birla said while addressing the Lok Sabha.
The lower House of the Parliament briefly took up discussion on India's First Astronaut Aboard the International Space Station - Critical Role of Space programme for 'Viksit Bharat By 2047'. Birla congratulated Shukla for his achievements.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, also spoke in about the achievements and hit out at the Opposition.
"The opposition has failed to congratulate the space experts and scientists for our space achievements. Your anger can be with the government. Your anger can be with the BJP and the NDA. But it is surprising that you can be angry with an astronaut. And that astronaut who, apart from being an astronaut, is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force. He does not belong to any political party," Singh said amid sloganeering by the opposition MPs.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised Shukla's mission.
"Since the Opposition is not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). It served as a stepping stone to our nation's own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan," Tharoor said.
Lucknow gears up for grand celebrations
Shukla's hometown, Lucknow has geared up to welcome the astronaut after the successful mission. City Mayor Sushma Kharakwal said that the local administration has moved a proposal to name the road leading to his home and a park in the city after him.
Shukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA's Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission, landed in the national capital in the early hours of Sunday.
Shukla was part of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.
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