Cabinet Hails Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Return from ISS

• Cabinet welcomes the safe return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla after historic 18-day ISS mission

• Shukla becomes first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station

• Mission advances India’s human spaceflight programme and global space leadership

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th July: In a landmark moment for India’s space ambitions, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday passed a resolution celebrating the return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

Shukla, who served as Mission Pilot on the Axiom-4 Crew, completed an 18-day mission aboard the ISS, launching on June 25 and safely returning on July 15. The Cabinet hailed his return as a “moment of pride, glory and joy for the entire nation”, and a major milestone in India’s space journey.

During his time in orbit, Group Captain Shukla conducted critical microgravity experiments, including studies on muscle regeneration, algal growth, cognitive performance, microbial survivability, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria. These experiments are expected to significantly contribute to both India’s space goals and global scientific understanding of human spaceflight.

The Cabinet commended ISRO and India’s scientific community for their relentless efforts that made the mission possible, calling the journey a “watershed moment” for India. It also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upcoming missions like Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, as India aims to solidify its place among top spacefaring nations.

The statement also praised the strategic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose guidance and reforms have enabled the rapid rise of India’s space sector. Under his tenure, missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 have expanded India’s scientific footprint beyond Earth.

The Cabinet noted the emergence of 300+ new space start-ups as a result of government-led sectoral reforms, marking unprecedented growth in India’s space economy and fostering innovation and job creation at scale.

Group Captain Shukla’s return, the Cabinet said, is not just a personal achievement but a national inspiration that will ignite curiosity among youth, promote scientific inquiry, and energise India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.