President Draupadi Murmu awarded the Ashok Chakra to Group Captain and Indian astronaut Shubhanashu Shukla as part of the Republic Day 2026 celebrations in New Delhi.
After a 21-gun salute presented by 1721 Ceremonial Battery of 172 Field Regiment, President Draupadi Murmu awarded the Ashoka Chakra to Group Captain Shubhanashu Shukla.
Group Captain Shukla, who created history by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), was awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
MI-17 helicopters showered flowers as Parade Commander Lieutenant General Bhavneesh Kumar led the parade on the duty path.
President Murmu today hoisted the tricolor flag on the duty path after arriving in a ceremonial coach escorted by the President’s bodyguards for the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
He was also accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, who is the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day celebrations.
President Murmu on Sunday approved gallantry awards to 70 armed forces personnel for extraordinary courage and sacrifice on the eve of the 77th Republic Day. This list includes six posthumous honours.
One of them is Ashoka Chakra; Three Kirti Chakras; 13 Shaurya Chakras including one posthumous; Two Sena Medals (Gallantry); 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry) including five posthumously; Includes six Navy Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
Suchi Mishra, group captain of the Indian Air Force and sister of Indian astronaut Shubhanashu Shukla, expressed pride in her brother, who will be awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, on Republic Day.
Speaking to ANI, he said, “It is a matter of great pride. He has worked very hard and he is getting this honour. It is a matter of great pride because in such a large population, he is the only person who has brought the name of India to such heights.”
The medal ceremony was preceded by a 21-gun salute, led by Major Pawan Singh Shekhawat with Naib Subedar (AIG) Anutosh Sarkar acting as the gun salute officer.
The 21-gun salute is an age-old tradition, given during Republic Day, Independence Day and state visits of foreign heads of state. On this special occasion, it is a tribute to the national flag of India, which is a symbol of India’s sovereignty, unity and strength.
The salute was fired using the indigenously developed artillery system, 105 mm Light Field Gun, deployed on the duty path.
Republic Day, celebrated annually on 26 January, marks the day India adopted its Constitution in 1950 and officially became a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. This day is extremely important from a historical point of view as it marks the culmination of India’s freedom struggle and the establishment of constitutional governance based on justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.