The Axiom-4 astronauts will perform around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries during their 14-day stay at the ISS. “We will have one with an Indian VVIP,” Shukla said to a question on interaction with the prime minister from space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to interact with the Axiom-4 crew during their 14-day stay at the ISS. On the Indian cultural reference to swan – the zero gravity indicator, Shukla said the bird was the vehicle of goddess Saraswati symbolising wisdom, learning and purity. Shukla said he would be carrying Indian delicacies such as mango nectar, moong dal halwa and carrot halwa on the space flight.”I hope to ignite curiosity and excitement in young minds, to let them know that space is not a distant dream, but a future they can shape,” he said. The Indian astronaut will be carrying artefacts designed by the National Institute of Design, symbolising India’s creativity and innovation to the ISS.Published on June 3, 2025 Shukla said he will also be carrying a special memento on his space flight for his mentor Rakesh Sharma, who undertook space travel in 1984 as part of the Russian mission. Once docked, the astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting science, outreach, and commercial activities.Axiom Space’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others, has been postponed to June 10 at 5:52 pm IST, onboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. He said the special memento would be revealed once he returns from the Axiom-4 mission and meets Sharma, who has guided him throughout the training period.”I will be speaking with educators, the members of the space industry, and students – sharing not just experiences, but inspiration. If even a young member is moved to explore the cosmos just because of this mission, we will have already succeeded,” he said. In a pre-flight press conference, the Axiom-4 crew comprising Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Mission Pilot Shukla and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, unveiled a zero gravity indicator called ‘Joy’ – a swan which has different cultural references in each of the participating nations in the mission.”I carry not just technical equipment but the hopes and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians. In many ways, I see myself as a bridge between Earth and space,” the Lucknow-born said. The spaceflight was originally scheduled for May 29 and then rescheduled to June 8. The announcement was made during a virtual press conference with the Axiom-4 mission crew members, who are currently in quarantine before their travel to the ISS.”I call upon every ‘Bharatvasi’ to join us, participate, engage and dream boldly about the future,” Shukla said in the virtual press conference from the launch centre in Florida, US. Shukla is set to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA. “It is said to have the rare ability to separate milk from water — a symbolism that is a powerful reminder of discernment in the age of distraction. To carry this symbol is to carry the essence of the mission — pursuit of knowledge, clarity of purpose and grace under pressure,” Shukla said. “For the people of India: This mission is a milestone and I request India to pray for the success of the mission. Even stars are attainable, Jai Hind,” Shukla said in brief remarks in Hindi. Shukla will be the second Indian to travel to space, four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic spaceflight onboard Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. Shukla said he hoped that his travel to space would generate curiosity among the young minds, who were key for India’s ambitious plans for space exploration. He said the Ax-4 crew will interact with school students, educators and members of the Indian space industry.

Speaking at the event, Minister Patil said the new plant is expected to provide more jobs in addition to the initial 800 jobs. “While the facility has initially created 800 jobs, the number is expected to rise to 3000 jobs once the plant becomes fully operational.” He added, 20 acres of land has been allocated for the battery solutions unit.The facility was inaugurated by Karnataka’s Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M.B. Patil.The plant will manufacture heavy-duty machines of 2 MW, 3 MW, and 4 MW capacity, essential for data centres, using advanced technology from Japan and France. These machines will be exported to markets in the United States, the UAE, and Europe, alongside serving the domestic market.Published on June 2, 2025 Highlighting the government’s focus on industrial growth in North Karnataka, Patil said the state has introduced several concessions and facilities under its new industrial policy. “For Nidec’s project, we ensured timely facilitation by allotting the required land within just two years,” he added.Data centre equipment manufacturing Nidec has inaugurated its ₹600 crore manufacturing plant in Hubballi. The facility is expected to create 800 direct jobs.In addition to heavy machinery, the plant will also produce power backup generators, wind generators, alternators for data centres, EV motors for three wheelers, four wheelers, trucks, elevator motors, and electronic drives-MV and LV.Addressing concerns about water usage, the minister clarified, “The Krishna River Water Tribunal has allocated 4 TMC of water for industrial purposes, of which we are currently using only 0.5 TMC. We are not diverting water meant for agriculture. Moreover, the industries are provided only downstream water from the Hidkal Dam.”

Sources said the expression of interest to be issued by the ADA is expected to tap into the emerging indigenous aerospace sector and offer them opportunities to get into the manufacturing and supply chain of 5.5 generation stealth AMCA. Published on June 1, 2025 The announcement made it clear that only an indigenous firm, including a non-government firm, can pitch for the AMCA tender though they will be free to form either a joint venture with other entities or get into a consortium.Some of the similar Indian companies — like Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), L&T, Mahindra Aerospace, Dynamatic Technologies, Bharat Forge, Sansera Engineering, Azad Engineering, Aequs, and Godrej Aerospace — are already offering world class body parts, systems, sub-systems and components to leading aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.They had also informed the Ministry of Defence about it before Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the Indian Air Force (IAF), headed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, gave its report on March 3, suggesting short, medium and long-term measures to achieve desired capability enhancement goals of IAF in an “optimal manner.” Vertical fins and radars have been outsourced to the TASL, and wings to the L&T. Besides, there are others too who are contributing to the development of the Tejas jets.For that, while the first centre fuselage assembly for the LCA Mk-1A was handed over by Vem Technologies to HAL in Hyderabad on May 30, the rear fuselage is being done by Alpha Tocol.The state-owned company also suggested its willingness to open up for private participation in the manufacturing of fighter jets to expedite the whole process and augment the domestic aerospace ecosystem.The ADA , which had conceived the project, will select the production partner and lead the programme for initial manufacturing of five prototypes of the next general stealth aircraft. Depending on the outcome, orders will follow.Currently, the HAL has to evaluate 24 responses it has got from the indigenous companies to form a consortium to bid for the AMCA programme. To gear itself for public-private partnership, sources said, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will be for the first time facing a competition to get a licence to manufacture fighter aircraft for the IAF, had already sought proposals from indigenous companies last year to put together a model for future speedier manufacturing of aerospace platforms.Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is likely to issue an expression of interest in a few weeks to invite bids for selecting a production partner for 5.5 generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) as the first prototype is scheduled for sometime between 2026 to 2027.While HAL will be the lead partner, other players shortlisted on the basis of their experience and financial strength will get equity depending on the money invested by them, said sources. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 26 cleared the programme to begin production of the AMCA, through maiden private participation, to overcome the long awaited capacity deficiency of the Indian Air Force. In fact, HAL is already experimenting with the public-private partnership. A Tejas LCA Mk-1A aircraft, being built for the first time with private participation, will be ready in some time. Other global aerospace companies Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Collins Aerospace, too, are expanding supply sourcing from India.