Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla attended the state-level Science and Technology Festival 2025 on Wednesday, encouraging students to explore careers in space science and technology. Speaking to the participants, he said he was delighted to see how eager children are about space. He noted that India has several upcoming space missions and that the rapidly growing private sector will also need young talent.

He stressed the value of mentorship, saying that strong guidance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials has played a key role in driving India’s space progress. He added that this momentum must continue and that students should be guided properly as they move from classrooms to becoming engineers, scientists, or astronauts. Discussing India’s future goals, he said the country aims to reach the moon by 2040 and highlighted discipline as the most essential quality for success. He praised today’s children as capable and well-informed and shared that he is actively involved in the Gaganyaan mission.

His participation at the festival underscored the government’s efforts to promote scientific thinking among young people and highlighted the growing opportunities in India’s space industry. Students said meeting an astronaut like Shukla inspired them to pursue fields such as space science and aerospace engineering. The festival included exhibits, workshops, and interactive activities to encourage innovation, research, and hands-on learning for students across the state.

Group Captain Shukla joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on 17 June 2006. In 2019, he was selected as one of four IAF officers for astronaut training under the Gaganyaan programme. In 2025, he became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station during Axiom Mission 4, spending 18 days conducting microgravity experiments. He returned on 15 July 2025, and the Government of India recognised the mission as a major milestone in the nation’s aerospace journey.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.