In an inspiring and emotional homecoming, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force revisited the National Defence Academy, where he once trained as a cadet.
During his visit to Hunter Squadron, his former unit, Group Captain Shukla actively participated in a traditional NDA-style push-up challenge with cadets of the 154th course. The exercise, performed on knuckles, saw enthusiastic participation from officers and cadets alike, reflecting the academy’s enduring spirit of camaraderie and discipline.
Sharing his experience, Group Captain Shukla described the visit as deeply nostalgic, saying it felt like “stepping through a fold in time,” as memories of his cadet days came alive across familiar locations within the academy.
As part of the visit, he delivered a guest lecture at Habibullah Hall, where he spoke about his 18-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025 and his ongoing training under India’s ambitious Gaganyaan programme. He highlighted how NDA training played a crucial role in shaping his journey as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, where cadets engaged with him on technical aspects of spaceflight, including challenges in microgravity and high-G environments.
Group Captain Shukla achieved a historic milestone in June 2025 when he became the first Indian to visit the ISS as mission pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, conducting key experiments in space.
The visit not only rekindled memories for Group Captain Shukla but also served as a powerful source of motivation for future military leaders, showcasing the limitless possibilities that begin at the National Defence Academy.
