India is preparing to create its own pool of astronauts for upcoming human spaceflight missions. According to officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the group will not be limited to Air Force pilots but will also include women and individuals from various fields. The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on National Space Day, where he urged young Indians to take part in the country’s ambitious space journey.

Astronaut Pool Beyond Air Force

An ISRO official told that the decision marks a shift in approach. “It has been decided that the astronaut pool will not be restricted to the Air Force alone. It will have people from all walks of life. Globally, if you see, it’s not just researchers but also entrepreneurs who are travelling to space. The decision to include women in the growing astronaut pool has also been taken,” the official said. This move reflects global trends where astronauts are drawn from diverse backgrounds, not only military aviation.

Why Air Force Pilots Were Chosen First

So far, the Gaganyaan mission’s first batch of astronauts includes four Indian Air Force test pilots Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla, Prashanth Nair, Angad Pratap, and Ajith Krishnan. They trained in Russia and India to prepare for the initial human spaceflight.

“The first batch of astronauts had to be selected from the Air Force because we needed very experienced pilots. For the initial flights, the vehicle is still under development and testing,” the ISRO official explained.

Fulfillment of an Earlier Promise

The initiative links back to Prime Minister Modi’s 2018 Independence Day address when he declared: “An Indian boy or girl will unfurl the Tricolour in space.” During his video address on National Space Day, PM Modi praised Group Captain Shubhanshu and highlighted the courage of India’s young generation.

“In my conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu, I saw the boundless courage and infinite dreams of the youth of New Bharat. To take these dreams forward, we are also preparing an astronaut pool for Bharat. On this Space Day, I invite my young friends to join this astronaut pool and give wings to the dreams of Bharat,” he said.

This year, India achieved the capability of space docking — a major milestone for our future space missions.

Now, the nation is preparing to send its astronauts into space through the Gaganyaan mission, where the expertise of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will play a crucial… pic.twitter.com/0XTVJ6ZZ9m

— BJP (@BJP4India) August 23, 2025

Long-Term Space Roadmap

The Prime Minister has previously suggested that India should maintain a ready pool of 40-50 astronauts. ISRO’s roadmap includes:

• Launching the first Gaganyaan human spaceflight by 2027.

• Setting up the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035.

• Sending a manned mission to the Moon by 2040.

So far, the government has cleared eight missions under Gaganyaan, with two crewed and six uncrewed. One of the uncrewed flights will carry the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

Expanding India’s Space Ambitions

PM Modi also underlined the need to deepen India’s exploration of outer space. “We have already reached the Moon and Mars. Now we must delve deeper into those regions of space where many vital mysteries for the future of humanity are concealed. Beyond galaxies lies our horizon,” he said.

Push for Private Sector Involvement

The Prime Minister further encouraged private players to take a greater role in India’s space journey. “At present, we witness about five to six major launches annually from Indian soil. I would like the private sector to take the lead so that in the next five years, we reach a stage where we launch 50 rockets every year. One every week,” he said.