IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's first ISS astronaut, urged Delhi students at the AI Grind Challenge launch to drive Viksit Bharat by 2047 through AI innovation. He shared space insights, with CM Rekha Gupta hailing the initiative for transforming 5 lakh learners into problem-solvers across key sectors.
At the Delhi government's AI Grind Challenge launch, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who visited the International Space Station via Axiom-4 mission earlier in 2025, inspired students by declaring them the architects of Viksit Bharat 2047. Drawing from his 18-day space journey, he spotlighted AI's pivotal role in space tech and issued a direct call to action for youth innovation. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta praised Shukla as a youth icon under PM Modi's leadership, noting the program's shift from rote classrooms to AI labs tackling urban challenges.
The four-month initiative targets over 5 lakh students across 1,000+ institutions, training 5,000 teachers as AI mentors and fostering 1,000 prototypes. Education Minister Ashish Sood aligned it with India's AI Decade, emphasizing solutions in sectors like health, transport, and climate. Shukla commended the leadership's focus on such priorities to realize national development goals.
Key Highlights
Shukla's message: Students must act for Viksit Bharat 2047 via AI and perseverance
AI Grind reaches 5L+ learners; trains 5K teachers, creates 1K prototypes
Sectors targeted: Health, transport, energy, climate, governance, more
CM Gupta: Transforms Delhi education, boosts India's global AI identity
Shukla's ISS feat: First Indian there, returned August 17 post-18-day mission
Sources: The Daily Pioneer, PTI News, The Week