The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday, after repeated disruptions by Opposition members prevented a scheduled special discussion on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic space mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The session, intended to celebrate India’s growing space ambitions and Shukla’s return, was derailed by sloganeering and protests in the Well of the House by members of the Opposition.

The day began with high anticipation as Parliament prepared to honour Shukla, the first Indian astronaut in over four decades to conduct research and participate in over 60 scientific experiments during his 18-day stay on the ISS as part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission.

The discussion was titled “India’s First Astronaut Aboard the International Space Station — Critical Role of Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047”, and was expected to highlight India’s strategic goals in space exploration, including the upcoming ‘Gaganyaan’ human spaceflight mission.

As the House reassembled, Speaker Om Birla took the Chair and invited members to begin the discussion. Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh expressed disappointment over the Opposition’s refusal to participate, stating, “You may have disagreements with the government or the BJP, but this is about an astronaut and Air Force officer who has made the nation proud. At least show encouragement to our scientists and astronauts.”

He also said that as a doctor, he understood the situation, as all the members of the Opposition are frustrated. Despite repeated appeals from Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair to maintain decorum and allow the debate to proceed, Opposition members continued shouting slogans, waving placards, and crowding the Well.

Saikia reminded them, “Every day you come with posters and banners. The entire nation is watching. This is a moment of pride for 140 crore Indians, but you do not want to discuss such an important issue.” The disruption forced the Chair to adjourn the House for the day, leaving the special discussion unaddressed. Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to India on August 17 and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Monday, has become a symbol of India’s space aspirations.

The adjournment underscores the deepening political divide in Parliament, even on matters of national pride and scientific achievement. The missed opportunity to celebrate Shukla’s milestone has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum and the scientific community.

-IANS

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The post Opposition Disrupts Lok Sabha Over SIR, Special Discussion On Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS Mission Adjourned appeared first on The Commune.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed pride over the recent achievements by Indians in space, science, sports, and culture. Addressing the 124th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi made a special mention of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, whose recent space mission created waves of joy and national pride across the country.

“In the past few weeks, a lot has happened that has made every Indian proud — be it sports, science or culture. Recently, Shubhanshu Shukla’s return from space was discussed a lot in the country. The moment Shubhanshu landed safely back on Earth, people jumped with joy. A wave of happiness spread across every heart. The whole country was filled with pride,” said PM Modi. Recalling the excitement and curiosity generated after Chandrayaan-3’s successful moon landing in August 2023, he noted how the mission had sparked a deep interest in science and space among children.

“I still remember when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the moon… Even young kids now say, “We will also go to space, we will also land on the moon and become space scientists.” The Prime Minister highlighted the growing reach of the Inspire-Manak campaign, an initiative to promote innovation among school children. “Five children are selected from every school who bring new ideas. So far, lakhs of children have become part of this initiative, and after Chandrayaan-3, the number has doubled,” he said. PM Modi also spoke about the rapid rise of space-related startups in the country, stating that their numbers have jumped from fewer than 50 five years ago to over 200 today.

In this context, he announced that August 23 will be celebrated as ‘National Space Day’ and invited citizens to share their suggestions on how they plan to mark the occasion. Stressing the new energy with which Indian science is progressing in the 21st century, he proudly spoke of Indian students winning medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad. “Devesh Pankaj, Sandeep Kuchi, Debadatta Priyadarshi and Ujjawal Kesari – these four made India proud,” he said. He also acknowledged India’s achievements in mathematics, noting the students’ performance at the International Mathematical Olympiad, where they brought home three gold, two silver and one bronze medal. Looking ahead, PM Modi said India will host the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in Mumbai next month, with participants from 60 countries. He noted that this will be the largest such Olympiad held so far and added, “In a way, India is now moving forward in both Olympic and Olympiad.”

–IANS

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It is a matter of national pride that an Indian astronaut is an active participant with defined scientific responsibilities in an international mission, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday, as he announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will carry out a series of crucial scientific experiments in space.

The announcement marks a significant milestone in India’s growing presence in global space exploration. Dr Singh, who also holds responsibilities as MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office and of the Space Department, said that Group Captain Shukla’s space research will cover a wide range of scientific domains.

These include studying physical, cognitive, and physiological responses in space, as well as the effects of continuous electronic display use in microgravity — an important consideration for future long-duration missions. The astronaut will also investigate skeletal muscle dysfunction in microgravity and test possible therapeutic strategies to counter its effects.

In addition, he will perform experiments involving extremophiles like Tardigrades, tiny organisms known for surviving extreme conditions. These experiments could expand our understanding of how life might sustain itself beyond Earth. Group Captain Shukla is one of the four astronauts selected for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, scheduled for launch in early 2027.

He is also participating in the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with Group Captain Prasanth Nair named as the designated backup. The minister highlighted that discussions around sending an Indian astronaut to the ISS were part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States.

He credited the post-2014 policy reforms in the space sector — such as opening Sriharikota to citizens and inviting private sector participation — as pivotal to India’s emergence as a leader in NewSpace initiatives. Speaking about Gaganyaan, Dr Singh said the trial phases are currently underway, and once completed, India will take a major leap forward in becoming truly Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the space domain. He called these space experiments ‘game-changers’ that will significantly strengthen the country’s space ecosystem.

Singh also noted that India’s space economy is projected to grow fivefold, from $8 billion to $44 billion, aligning with the government’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He said 2014 was a turning point when PM Modi opened the space sector to private players, foreign direct investment, and global collaborations.

Beyond space, the Minister touched upon the government’s focus on deep ocean exploration, stating that India’s vast coastal resources remain underutilised. The Deep Ocean Mission aims to change that by unlocking the potential of the marine economy. He also emphasised India’s push for clean energy, with increased funding for nuclear energy research and the development of Bharat Small Modular Reactors, key to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

–IANS

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