PM Modi interacts with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla; calls for a pool of 40–50 astronauts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla in New Delhi on 18 August 2025, discussing his space experience and India's Gaganyaan and space station plans.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla in New Delhi on 18 August 2025, discussing Shukla's experiences in space, progress in science and technology and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. The Prime Minister asked about Shukla's experiments on growing moong and methi aboard the space station and noted that food is a major challenge in space. He said India needs a pool of 40–50 astronauts ready for future missions and that the country now has two major missions ahead – the Space Station and Gaganyaan. Shukla said a space station led by Bharat, with participation from other nations, would be a powerful tool.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 18 Aug 2025, New Delhi
- Astronaut
- Shubhanshu Shukla
- Topics
- Space experience, science & technology, Gaganyaan
- Experiments
- Growing moong and methi aboard the space station
- Astronaut pool
- 40–50 ready astronauts (PM)
- Missions ahead
- Space Station and Gaganyaan
Practice MCQs 3 questions
During his interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla on 18 August 2025, PM Modi said India needs a pool of how many astronauts ready for future missions?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 40–50
The Prime Minister highlighted the need to build a large pool of astronauts, suggesting that 40–50 individuals should be ready for such missions.
PM Modi asked Shubhanshu Shukla about his experiments on growing which crops aboard the space station?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Moong and methi
PIB states the Prime Minister sought insights into the significance of Shukla's experiments on growing moong and methi aboard the space station.
According to PM Modi in his interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla, which are the two major missions India now has ahead?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Space Station and Gaganyaan
The Prime Minister remarked that India now has two major missions ahead – the Space Station and Gaganyaan – and that Shukla's experience would be of great value.