Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's Memorable Visit to NDA's Hunter Squadron: Engages in Push-Up Challenge with Cadets

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force made a poignant return to the National Defence Academy, revisiting the institution where he trained in his earlier years.

During his time at Hunter Squadron, Group Captain Shukla engaged in a customary NDA-style push-up challenge with cadets from the 154th course. This exercise, performed on knuckles, saw enthusiastic participation from both officers and cadets, highlighting the academy's unwavering spirit of camaraderie and discipline.

Reflecting on his visit, Group Captain Shukla expressed a profound sense of nostalgia, describing the experience as akin to "stepping through a fold in time," with memories of his cadet days vividly resurfacing as he moved through the familiar academy grounds.

As part of the visit, he delivered a guest lecture at Habibullah Hall, discussing his 18-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025 and his training under India's Gaganyaan programme. He emphasized how his training at NDA was instrumental in his development as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut.

The lecture concluded with an interactive session where cadets probed him on various technical aspects of spaceflight, including challenges related to microgravity and high-G conditions.

Group Captain Shukla marked history in June 2025 as the first Indian to serve as the mission pilot on the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, where he conducted significant experiments.

The visit not only evoked memories for Group Captain Shukla but also served as an inspiration for aspiring military leaders, illustrating the vast opportunities that begin at the National Defence Academy.