New Delhi, Aug 23 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for hoisting the Indian national flag aboard the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a proud moment for every Indian. His remarks came while addressing the nation on National Space Day, observed annually on August 23 to commemorate the success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission.
“Just three days ago, I met Group Captain Shukla. The moment he showed me the Tiranga at the ISS was beyond words. He has filled every Indian with pride,” said PM Modi. Shukla made history on June 26 by becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, as part of Axiom Space’s Mission 4.
Celebrating the country’s strides in space exploration, Modi highlighted that India has become the fourth nation, after the US, China, and Russia, to achieve docking and undocking capabilities in space.
Reflecting on his interaction with Shukla, the Prime Minister said he saw the “boundless courage and infinite dreams” of New India’s youth. He announced plans to build India’s own Astronaut Pool and invited young Indians to be a part of this future-forward vision.
“India has already reached the Moon and Mars—now we must venture deeper into space. Beyond galaxies lies our horizon,” he stated, emphasizing the significance of space in unlocking humanity’s future.
Modi noted that space-tech is playing an increasingly vital role in governance—improving crop insurance schemes, aiding fishermen, supporting disaster management, and advancing infrastructure planning through geospatial data.
He also highlighted the recent National Meet 2.0, organized to promote the use of space-tech across government sectors, and encouraged startups to drive innovation aimed at public welfare.
“India’s journey in space is just beginning,” he concluded.
