♦ Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was conferred the Ashoka Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award, by President Droupadi Murmu during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path on 26 January 2026. 

♦ Notably, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will receive the Kirti Chakra.

♦ Shukla travelled to the International Space Station in 2025 as part of the Axiom-4 mission, becoming only the second Indian to travel to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma.