Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday warmly embraced Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), calling his achievement a moment of pride for the nation.

Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot popularly known as Shux, returned to India on Sunday after completing an 18-day mission as part of the Axiom-4 crewed flight. He visited the Prime Minister at his residence in New Delhi, where he shared photographs of Earth taken from space and spoke about his zero-gravity experiments aboard the ISS.

Following the meeting, PM Modi wrote on X:
“Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed his experiences in space, the progress of science & technology, and India’s Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat.”

Nation Celebrates His Return

Shukla was given a rousing welcome at Delhi’s IGI Airport on Sunday by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and hundreds of supporters carrying the tricolour.

Earlier on Monday, Parliament honoured Shukla’s achievement, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla describing his journey as “a moment of pride for the entire nation and an inspiration for the youth.” Opposition MPs, however, staged a boycott during the session.

Leaders across parties hailed his contribution, noting that the mission marks a new chapter in India’s space exploration journey. Shukla’s flight not only strengthened India’s presence in international space missions but also sparked fresh enthusiasm among students aspiring for careers in science and technology.

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