Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Awarded Ashoka Chakra for Historic ISS Mission
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla received the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, for becoming the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom-4 mission. He was the second Indian in space, following Rakesh Sharma's flight 41 years prior.
On the eve of Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry awards for 70 armed forces personnel, including six posthumous recognitions. Two Indian Navy officers, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A, were awarded the Shaurya Chakra for their global circumnavigation aboard INSV Tarini.
The Kirti Chakra was awarded to Major Arshdeep Singh, Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba, and Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, who trained for India's Gaganyaan mission. A total of 301 military decorations were also approved.
