Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force was accorded a hero&rsquo;s welcome on his return to New Delhi early Sunday after completing a historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla, who became the second Indian astronaut to go to space after Rakesh Sharma, was greeted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, and hundreds of citizens celebrating his achievement.
The Lok Sabha has announced a special discussion on Monday titled &ldquo;India&rsquo;s first astronaut aboard the ISS &ndash; Critical role of space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047&rdquo;. Lawmakers will debate India&rsquo;s space ambitions, the Gaganyaan mission, and plans for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station).
Shukla&rsquo;s journey was part of the Axiom-4 mission, which also marked a return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary after four decades. He returned to Earth on July 16, carrying vital experience and insights for ISRO&rsquo;s upcoming projects.
President Droupadi Murmu hailed Shukla&rsquo;s feat in her Independence Day eve address, calling it an inspiration for future generations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised him during his 79th Independence Day speech, saying, &ldquo;Every citizen is filled with pride. Shukla&rsquo;s mission strengthens our resolve for an Atmanirbhar Gaganyaan and our space station.&rdquo;
The Department of Space described his mission as one of &ldquo;strategic importance,&rdquo; underlining India&rsquo;s ambition to emerge as a major player in human space exploration.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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IAF hero Shubhanshu Shukla welcomed home; Parliament to debate India's space milestones

Shubhanshu Shukla Returns After ISS Mission

IAF hero Shubhanshu Shukla welcomed home; Parliament to debate India's space milestones

August 17, 2025 | 14:24 IST