Who was the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station?

The answer

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station when he launched aboard SpaceX's Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) on June 25, 2025. The mission was a private spaceflight organized by Axiom Space, carrying a four-person crew including veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander. Shukla, who was selected as one of four Indian astronaut candidates for ISRO's Gaganyaan program, conducted scientific experiments during his approximately 3-week stay on the ISS. India thus joined a select group of nations whose citizens have lived aboard the station, even as ISRO continues developing its own crewed spacecraft.