Indian astronaut-designate and Indian Air Force Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, call sign 'Papa', was awarded the Kirti Chakra on Monday by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nair is one of the four Gagannauts selected for India's first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.
Kirti Chakra: India's Second-Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award
The Kirti Chakra is India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, recognizing courage, devotion to duty, and distinguished service to the nation. Nair's recognition highlights his exceptional contributions to the Indian Air Force and the space program.
Nair's Role in the Axiom Mission-4
Nair served as the backup pilot for the June 2025 Axiom Mission-4 to the International Space Station (ISS). He completed rigorous training at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston alongside primary astronaut Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who ultimately spent 18 days aboard the ISS.
Illustrious Career in the Indian Air Force
Commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in December 1998, Nair has logged over 3,000 hours of flight time across diverse aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, and AN-32. He has served as a category-A flying instructor and commanding officer of a Su-30 squadron. Nair graduated at the top of his class from the US Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Alabama.
Selection and Training for Gaganyaan
In 2019, Nair, along with Shukla and two other IAF pilots, was selected by ISRO for training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow, where they trained for a year.
Other Awards Presented at the Ceremony
During the phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Murmu also awarded six other Kirti Chakras, including two posthumously; 15 Vir Chakras, including three posthumously; and 29 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumously, to personnel from the defence forces, central armed police forces, and state and union territory police.
