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Indian astronaut and Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India can acquire a leadership role in the space sector in the coming years.
Interacting with the
Prime Minister on the evening of Monday, August 18, Shukla said that despite failures, the government's support to the Indian space programme could help the country achieve a leadership role in the sector.
"I think somewhere there is a very big opportunity for us, especially because the kind of commitment the government has made to sustain the space programme, and allocating sustained budget every year, despite failures like Chandrayaan 2. Even after that, we said no, we will move ahead. And then Chandrayaan 3 was successful," Shukla said while
speaking with PM Modi.
"Even after such failures, if we are getting so much support and the whole world is seeing this. We have the capability, so we can acquire a leadership role here. It would be big tool, a space station led by Bharat (India), where other people would come to be a part of it," he added.
PM Modi said that Shukla's experience on the International Space Station would help in India's space station and Gaganyaan missions.
PM Modi hugs Shukla, pats his back
At the Prime Minister's
residence, PM Modi welcomed Shukla by hugging him and giving several pats on the back, adding that if the country accomplishes the missions by being self-reliant, it would do better in the future.
Shukla returned to India on Sunday, August 17, after returning from his successful Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station. He was welcomed by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in New Delhi.
Solving food security concerns through space
Shukla shared his
ISS mission's experience with PM Modi and told him about the status of the experiments he undertook at the station, which could help in resolving the food security solutions in India.
"Food is a big challenge on a space station, there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and experiments are going on in every way," Shukla said.
Shukla outlined that the plants sprouted in eight days since he performed the experiments. He added
that it does not need much space and resources to grow plants in the space.
"Maybe this would also solve our food security problems," Shukla told PM Modi.
Interacting with the
"I think somewhere there is a very big opportunity for us, especially because the kind of commitment the government has made to sustain the space programme, and allocating sustained budget every year, despite failures like Chandrayaan 2. Even after that, we said no, we will move ahead. And then Chandrayaan 3 was successful," Shukla said while
"Even after such failures, if we are getting so much support and the whole world is seeing this. We have the capability, so we can acquire a leadership role here. It would be big tool, a space station led by Bharat (India), where other people would come to be a part of it," he added.
#WATCH | Delhi: During his interaction with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, PM Narendra Modi said, "Space station and Gaganyaan. These are our big missions. Your experience will be very useful in that."
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said, "I think somewhere there is a very… pic.twitter.com/h6BrHOPUSz
— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2025
PM Modi said that Shukla's experience on the International Space Station would help in India's space station and Gaganyaan missions.
PM Modi hugs Shukla, pats his back
At the Prime Minister's
#WATCH | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who was the pilot of Axiom-4 Space Mission to the International Space Station (ISS), meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/0uvclu9V2b
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2025
Shukla returned to India on Sunday, August 17, after returning from his successful Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station. He was welcomed by Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in New Delhi.
Solving food security concerns through space
Shukla shared his
"Food is a big challenge on a space station, there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and experiments are going on in every way," Shukla said.
Shukla outlined that the plants sprouted in eight days since he performed the experiments. He added
"Maybe this would also solve our food security problems," Shukla told PM Modi.
#WATCH | Delhi: During his interaction with PM Modi, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said, "Food is a big challenge on a space station, there is less space, and cargo is expensive. You always try to pack as many calories and nutrients as possible in the least space, and… pic.twitter.com/oxZwaQ9HLv
— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2025
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