New Delhi, Dec 20: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday described his meeting with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), as “an inspiring afternoon.” Minister Pradhan hailed the astronaut as a national icon whose pioneering journey has ignited aspirations among millions of young Indians.

In a post on X, the Minister said Shukla’s courage and spirit had “inspired a billion dreams.” He emphasised that the astronaut, also a key ‘Gaganyatri’ under India’s human spaceflight programme, represents the country’s growing stature in global space exploration.

An inspiring afternoon!

Had the pleasure of meeting Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to go to International Space Station and a key ‘Gaganyatri’. An icon for the youth, his courage, spirit and pioneering journey has inspired a billion dreams.

It was… pic.twitter.com/bSjoymBwMa

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 20, 2025

Pradhan revealed that their discussions centred on integrating space education and research into school and higher education curricula. He stressed that nurturing future-ready space professionals is a priority under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “We must align education with India’s bold space reforms to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers,” he noted.

The Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for ushering in transformative reforms in the space sector, enabling India to emerge as a leading spacefaring nation. He said initiatives such as Gaganyaan and expanded international collaborations have created unprecedented opportunities for Indian youth to participate in frontier research and innovation.

Group Captain Shukla’s mission to the ISS marks a milestone in India’s space journey, symbolising both technological prowess and human ambition. His role as a Gaganyatri underscores India’s commitment to advancing indigenous capabilities while contributing to global scientific endeavours.

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The meeting, Pradhan said, reinforced the importance of combining inspiration with institutional support. “Our goal is to ensure that every child in India sees space not as a distant dream but as a tangible career path,” he added.