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From the battlefield to outer space, India’s top gallantry awards honour rare courage this year. An astronaut’s ISS mission earns the Ashoka Chakra, alongside brave acts by soldiers and officers- here’s why this list stands out.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been conferred with the Ashoka Chakra
New Delhi: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been conferred with the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the nation’s space programme and his landmark mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The award honours Shukla’s role in advancing India’s space capabilities through his journey and stay aboard the ISS, a feat that marked a historic moment for the country.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been conferred with the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration, for his contribution to the space program.#ashokachakra #shubhanshushukla #breaking pic.twitter.com/BsXtvHLgnM
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) January 25, 2026
Shukla created history on June 26, 2025, when he reached the ISS after launching aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in the United States. With this achievement, he became the first Indian astronaut to set foot on the ISS.
Among Indians who have travelled to space, Shukla is only the second, after Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984-41 years earlier. His mission is seen as a major milestone in India’s growing presence in global space exploration and international collaboration.
In another significant announcement, Group Captain P B Nair, one of the four designated astronauts for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, has been awarded the Kirti Chakra for his outstanding service and contribution.
The recognition of astronauts underscores the increasing role of the Indian armed forces in supporting and advancing the country’s space ambitions, particularly as India prepares for its first indigenous human spaceflight mission.
Along with Shukla and Nair, several officers and personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and central forces were honoured with the country’s top peacetime gallantry awards.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
Kirti Chakra
Major Arshdeep Singh
Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba
Group Captain P B Nair
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Lt Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar
Major Anshul Baltoo
Major Shivkant Yadav
Major Vivek
Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh
Captain Yogender Singh Thakur
Subedar P H Moses
L/Dfr Baldev Chand (Posthumous)
Rifleman Manglem Sang Vaiphei
Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta
Lt Commander Dilna K (Navy)
Lt Commander Roopa A (Navy)
Assistant Commandant Vipin Wilson (MHA)
