PM Modi speaks with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla aboard ISS, calls mission a “shubh-aarambh”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a live video conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission.

Modi praised Shukla’s achievement, calling it a “shubh-aarambh” (auspicious beginning) for India’s human spaceflight ambitions, including Gaganyaan and the eventual creation of a dedicated Indian space station.

During the interaction, Shukla described Earth as “borderless” from orbit and noted that India appears “grander and bigger” than depicted on maps .

The astronaut also shared that he’s conducting scientific experiments aboard the ISS with potential applications in agriculture and healthcare, and spoke of the importance of mindfulness in making sound decisions under pressure.

Modi emphasised that though Shukla is physically distant from India, he remains “closest to the hearts” of its 1.4 billion people, marking what he called the dawn of a new era for India's space exploration.

The prime minister’s remarks evoked nostalgic echoes of Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 mission, bringing Indian space achievement full circle .

Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force test pilot and the first Indian astronaut on the ISS, carries out over 60 experiments during the two-week mission. He expressed gratitude to Modi and the nation, describing his journey as a “collective achievement,” and encouraged young Indians by saying, “Sky is never the limit."