Republic Day 2026: President Droupadi Murmu awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry honour, the Ashok Chakra, to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Republic Day 2026, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. This rare recognition highlights exceptional courage and excellence shown beyond the battlefield.Â
Shubhanshu Shukla created history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station and was recognised for his outstanding bravery and strong determination during the Axiom-4 mission.
On the occasion of Republic Day 2026, President Droupadi Murmu confers India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, upon Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who made history as the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station. Group Captain Shukla has… pic.twitter.com/2jRraeYFja
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 26, 2026
First Indian to Visit the International Space Station (ISS)
The award recognises Shukla’s historic human spaceflight mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He became the first Indian ever to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma.
Axiom Mission-4: A High-Risk Space Journey
Shukla participated in Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) in June 2025. The mission launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. It included complex orbital operations and an 18-day stay on the ISS. During the mission, he conducted more than 60 scientific experiments in areas such as biomedical research, material science, and space agriculture.
Officials said the mission demanded great mental strength, technical precision, and courage under extreme conditions. These qualities led to him receiving the Ashok Chakra, an honour traditionally given for the most outstanding bravery in peacetime.
Shubhanshu Shukla IAF Career and Flying Experience
Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, Shukla is an experienced fighter pilot with over 2,000 flying hours. He has flown major combat aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, and Jaguar.
Before the space mission, he completed intensive astronaut training in Russia and the United States.
Boost to India’s Gaganyaan and Space Ambitions
This award marks a significant moment for India. It shows national recognition of scientific risk-taking and space exploration as acts of bravery. Shukla’s achievement is expected to strengthen India’s future human spaceflight plans, especially the Gaganyaan programme.
