The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has unveiled two special learning modules, India: A Rising Space Power, that chronicle the country’s extraordinary space journey—from its modest beginnings in the 1960s to cutting-edge missions that have placed India among the world’s leading spacefaring nations.

Developed for middle (Classes 6–8) and secondary (Classes 9–12) students, the modules weave together history, science, and vision, tracing a path that began with rocket components ferried on bicycles and bullock carts and has advanced to lunar landings, solar observatories, and future human spaceflight.

The narrative honours aviation and space pioneers, including Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space in 1984, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who in June 2025 became the first Indian to live aboard the International Space Station, conducting microgravity experiments.

Students are introduced to landmark missions—Chandrayaan-1’s (2008) discovery of water molecules on the Moon, the Mars Orbiter Mission (2013) that made India the first Asian country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt, Chandrayaan-3’s (2023) historic lunar south pole landing, and Aditya-L1 (2023), the nation’s first solar observatory.

Future frontiers, including Chandrayaan-4, a planned lunar sample-return mission, and Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight programme, are also highlighted, along with the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

The modules spotlight ISRO’s reputation as the world’s most cost-efficient launch provider, with more than 131 spacecraft missions, 101 launches, and over 430 international satellites deployed. They also touch upon global collaborations, such as the joint NASA–ISRO NISAR satellite, which delivers high-resolution Earth data every 12 days.

Designed with timelines, visuals, and narratives to spark curiosity, the modules open with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words: “Space may seem distant, but is an integral part of our daily life… India’s space programme is a perfect example of our vision of Scale, Speed and Skill.”

Part of NCERT’s supplementary series, these modules aim not just to educate, but to inspire a new generation of Indians to look to the skies and dream bigger.