41 years after Rakesh Sharma, space bravery earns Ashoka Chakra for Shubhanshu Shukla

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26, 2026.

Shukla created history by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station and the second Indian to travel into space, after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. He flew to the ISS in June 2025 as part of the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4), spending 18 days in orbit.

During the mission, Shukla took part in more than 60 scientific experiments covering areas such as biomedical research, material science and space agriculture. Officials said the mission involved high-risk orbital operations and demanded exceptional technical skill, mental resilience and courage in extreme conditions.

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Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, Shukla is a test pilot with over 2,000 flying hours across multiple aircraft platforms, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and An-32. He underwent extensive astronaut training in both Russia and the United States ahead of the mission.

The conferment of the Ashoka Chakra is being viewed as a rare recognition of courage and excellence beyond conventional combat roles, highlighting the risks associated with human spaceflight. The honour is also seen as reinforcing India’s long-term ambitions in space exploration, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.