Republic Day honours: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla awarded Ashoka Chakra; dozens more decorated
India announced its Republic Day 2026 gallantry and service honours, led by the Ashoka Chakra for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for a landmark space achievement. The list also includes multiple Kirti and Shaurya Chakras and a large set of military decorations, with some conferred posthumously.
Top honour for a milestone in space
On January 25, 2026, the Centre announced the Republic Day honours, with the Ashoka Chakra—India’s highest peacetime gallantry award—going to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. The announcement highlights Shukla’s role in a historic human-spaceflight milestone: he became the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS), after spending 18 days in space as part of Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4).
The award places a spotlight on India’s expanding involvement in human space exploration and the growing national significance of space missions that combine military training, international collaboration and advanced technology. The citation also reflects the broader public resonance of high-profile spaceflight achievements, especially as India positions itself for future crewed missions.
A wider set of Republic Day awards and decorations
Alongside the Ashoka Chakra, the Republic Day list includes multiple military decorations and gallantry awards approved by President Droupadi Murmu. The package spans Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra awards, as well as Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena medals for gallantry. The honours include recipients recognised posthumously, underlining that many awards commemorate actions taken in high-risk operations and demanding duty environments.
The announcement also notes that Shukla served as the pilot for the Ax-4 mission. The mission was executed by the US-based private company Axiom Space and involved NASA and the European Space Agency, with India’s ISRO also referenced in relation to the mission framework and collaboration. In parallel, the list of recipients reflects the breadth of India’s armed forces—covering the Army, Navy and Air Force—and the range of contexts in which personnel are honoured, from frontline operations to exceptional acts of courage and leadership.
The Republic Day honours this year combine traditional military gallantry recognition with a strong signal that spaceflight achievements are increasingly viewed as strategic national milestones.
With Republic Day celebrations set for January 26, 2026, the honours announcement serves as an early focal point in the national observance—connecting military service, high-visibility technology achievements and the broader story of modern Indian capability-building.