Gaganyaan astronaut says India is ready for space and development

Delivering a stirring message of ambition and accountability, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla urged citizens to take collective responsibility in realising the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, or a fully developed India, by the year 2047. Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, he said that the future of the nation would be shaped not just by policy or technology, but by the proactive mindset of every individual.

Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, test pilot, and one of the four astronauts selected for India’s first human space mission Gaganyaan reminded the audience that India's journey towards becoming a technologically advanced global power had already begun. The Gaganyaan mission, expected to be launched in 2027, will mark India’s entry into the elite group of nations capable of manned spaceflight.

Only three countries, Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), the United States and China have successfully conducted independent human spaceflights so far. With the Gaganyaan mission in 2027, India is set to become the world’s fourth nation to achieve this historic feat.

In his address, Shukla called upon the youth, innovators, startups and industry leaders to step forward and participate actively in building a developed India.

“To realise our dream of Viksit Bharat-2047, my only request to all of you is to take up the responsibility and think, ‘How can I take India from here to a developed nation by 2047?’” he said.

Highlighting India’s progress in the space sector, he proudly stated that the country would soon witness Indian astronauts travelling to space in an Indian-built rocket and capsule, launched from Indian soil. However, he noted that such achievements required nationwide support across various levels of innovation.

“From developing a simple straw to a complex life-support system everything is required right now,” he stressed, urging people to contribute in whatever way they can to advance the nation’s capabilities.

Shukla also drew attention to India’s growing space ecosystem, revealing that over 300 startups are currently operating in the space sector. He predicted that this number would rise significantly in the coming years and said that “it would take the effort of the entire nation to make this mission happen successfully.”

Reflecting on his personal experience in space, Shukla shared how the vast Indian subcontinent appears from orbit surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. He had recently flown as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight operated by Axiom Space with support from ISRO and NASA.

He showed the audience a short video of Indian cities at night as seen from space. Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad and other major cities appeared brightly illuminated, a visual that he said symbolised the spirit and potential of the country.

“All I can say to you is that India already looks bright from space but after meeting all of you, I am sure our future is even brighter,” he said, drawing applause from the summit attendees.

Concluding his speech with an inspiring message, Group Captain Shukla declared,

“Sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you, and not for Bharat.”

His words left the gathering with a renewed sense of purpose that India’s vision for 2047 will be realised not just in laboratories or launchpads, but in the collective determination of its people.