Bengaluru, November 20, 2025: Astronaut and Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Thursday called upon citizens to actively contribute to the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, coinciding with India’s centenary of independence. Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Shukla emphasized that achieving a developed nation status requires collective effort, innovation, and responsibility from all sections of society.

Group Captain Shukla, who is one of four astronauts selected and trained for India’s first manned space mission, ‘Gaganyaan,’ slated for 2027, urged people to consider their individual roles in nation-building. “To realise our dream of Viksit Bharat-2047, my only request to all of you is to take up the responsibility and think, ‘How can I take India from here to be a developed nation in 2047?’” he said, highlighting the importance of personal accountability and initiative in shaping the country’s future.

Shukla noted that India is on the brink of a historic milestone in space exploration, with its citizens soon set to travel to space on an Indian launch vehicle and inside an Indian capsule, all from Indian soil. He emphasized that the success of such ambitious endeavors depends not only on astronauts and scientists but on contributions from every sector of society. “You have to think about what you can do, how can you enable this to happen – from developing a simple straw to developing a complex life support system – everything is required right now, going into the future,” he remarked, stressing the role of innovation and technological participation at all levels.

Highlighting the rapidly growing Indian space ecosystem, Shukla said that over 300 startups are already working in the space domain, and their numbers are expected to grow significantly in the coming years. He stressed that leveraging the expertise of these startups, along with coordinated efforts across academia, industry, and government, is crucial for India’s successful entry into manned spaceflight and broader technological advancement.

During his talk, Shukla shared insights from his maiden space voyage aboard the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space. He captivated the audience with a small video clip showing how India appears from space at night, with cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad shining brightly. “All I can say to you at the end of the day is that you saw how bright India looks from space right now, but having met all of you and spoken to so many people, I can assure you that our future is even brighter than it looks in this slide,” he said.

Shukla’s address also conveyed a larger message about the potential of India’s youth and technological workforce. He underlined that the Gaganyaan mission and other space-related achievements are emblematic of the country’s growing scientific capabilities and the opportunities available for innovators, engineers, and entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully. He urged students, researchers, and professionals to view national development and space exploration as interconnected pursuits where individual creativity and effort can have a lasting impact on the country’s trajectory.

Reflecting on the geographical beauty of India as seen from space, Shukla noted that the subcontinent is encircled by the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea, highlighting the strategic and cultural richness of the region. Through his personal experience in space, he conveyed a sense of global perspective, emphasizing both the fragility and potential of the nation.

Concluding his speech, Shukla delivered a motivational message to the audience: “Sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you, and not for Bharat.” This sentiment reinforced the overarching theme of limitless possibilities for India when citizens unite with a shared vision of innovation, development, and exploration.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s remarks come at a pivotal time as India gears up for its first manned space mission and continues its efforts in technological self-reliance and industrial growth. His call for citizens to participate actively in nation-building by 2047 resonates with broader governmental and societal goals, linking India’s space ambitions with the larger vision of achieving developed nation status in the next two decades.

By invoking both a sense of national pride and personal responsibility, Shukla sought to inspire a culture of proactive contribution, innovation, and collaboration, encouraging every Indian to consider how their efforts, no matter how small, can contribute to the realization of a “Viksit Bharat” by India’s centenary.