Lucknow, January 24, 2026 – In a ceremony marking the commencement of Uttar Pradesh Day 2026, Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was conferred the prestigious Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman, alongside four other distinguished individuals from the state. The event, held at the newly constructed Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This three-day celebration, beginning on January 24, honors the state’s foundation and recognizes contributions in diverse fields such as space exploration, education, literature, women’s empowerment, and agriculture.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a native of Lucknow, expressed profound pride upon receiving the award. “I always feel very good after coming to my birthplace,” he stated. “The youth will get a lot of motivation from programs like these. This is a very good initiative of the government.” Shukla, designated as the prime astronaut for India’s Axiom-4 mission, made history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 26, 2025. He is the second Indian astronaut to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
The other recipients of the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman 2026 include:
- Alakh Pandey, from Prayagraj, founder and CEO of Physics Wallah. Starting with a YouTube channel in 2016 and launching an app in 2020, Pandey has revolutionized affordable education in India. His company achieved unicorn status in 2022, making it the sixth edtech unicorn in the country.
- Dr. Hariom Panwar, a law professor from Bulandshahr, recognized for his literary contributions. His notable works include poems such as ‘Kala Dhan’, ‘Ghati Ke Dil Ki Dhadkan’, ‘Main Marte Loktantra Ka Bayan Hoon’, and ‘Bagi Hain Hum, Inquilab Ke Geet Sunate Jayenge’. Proceeds from his publications support education for underprivileged children and welfare initiatives for deprived communities.
- Rashmi Arya, founder of Shrimad Dayanand Arya Kanya Gurukul in Meerut, honored for her work in women’s empowerment. Established in 2007, the gurukul integrates Vedic traditions with modern education, providing free schooling to over 600 needy girls. Students have excelled in academics, Gita-Ashtadhyayi competitions, yoga, archery, and jump rope.
- Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, from Varanasi, acclaimed for advancements in agriculture. A gold medalist in agriculture from Acharya Narendra Deva University, he earned his PhD from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. His research on flood-tolerant Sub-1 rice varieties has received global acclaim. As director of the International Rice Research Institute’s South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi, he has spearheaded projects funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank, and USAID, contributing to sustainable agriculture over a 29-year career.
During the ceremony, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the gathering, highlighting the state’s progress under the double-engine government. “Today, Shubhanshu Shukla, Alakh Pandey, Rashmi Arya, Sudhanshu Singh, and Hari Om Pawar were honored with the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman,” he remarked. Shah emphasized Uttar Pradesh’s transformation from a BIMARU state to a leading economy, projecting it to become fully developed by 2047 and a cornerstone of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He launched the ‘One District, One Cuisine’ scheme to promote the state’s culinary heritage globally and inaugurated the Sardar Patel Industrial Area Scheme, aimed at fostering a one-trillion-dollar economy through phased industrial development across districts.
Shah also commended key achievements, including 17% agricultural growth, 20% contribution to national food-grain production, provision of permanent housing to 62 lakh poor families, and pensions for over one crore beneficiaries. He noted significant improvements in law and order, with a 94% reduction in dacoity and 82% in robbery incidents. Additionally, the state has seen IT exports exceeding ₹82,000 crore, 11% growth in electronics exports, and investment proposals worth ₹45 lakh crore, of which ₹15 lakh crore have been implemented.
The Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman underscores the state’s commitment to recognizing excellence and inspiring future generations. As Shukla noted, such initiatives provide substantial motivation for the youth, aligning with the government’s broader vision for development and empowerment. The celebrations continue over the next two days, featuring cultural programs and exhibitions at Rashtra Prerna Sthal, a site dedicated to national icons like Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
