ISRO

On this Special Report, the focus is on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who has made history as the first Indian astronaut to receive the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. Speaking about his historic journey, Shukla stated, 'Today in 2025, the Indian flag reached the International Space Station for the first time.' The Indian Air Force officer was recognised for his exemplary courage and leadership during the 18-day Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The programme also highlights the 70 other gallantry award recipients honoured by the President on the eve of Republic Day, including Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who received the Vishishta Seva Medal for her role in Operation Zindur. Shukla shared insights into the challenges of space travel and the powerful message of India's growing presence in space exploration, describing the experience as 'out of this world' while inspiring future generations of Indians.

On this Special Report, India Today’s Preeti Choudhry anchors the live coverage of India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations from Kartavya Path. The bulletin highlights the historic decoration of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a key member of the Gaganyaan mission, marking a significant milestone for India’s space-faring ambitions. Preeti Choudhry notes, 'It basically tells us where we want to be, where India wants to be in the committee of space-faring nations.' The programme also discusses the announcement of 131 Padma Awards for 2026, including a posthumous honour for actor Dharmendra. Joining the conversation, Lieutenant General Sanjay Kulkarni reflects on the pride and rigorous selection process for regiments marching in the parade. The discussion underscores the evolution of India’s military technology and the symbolic importance of gallantry award winners leading the contingents, showcasing the nation's 'brains and brawn' on the global stage.

On this special report, the focus is on Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla, who has made history as the first Indian astronaut to receive the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. Speaking about his experience on the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom 4 mission, Shukla stated, 'Today in 2025, the Indian flag reached the International Space Station for the first time.' He shared insights into the challenges of microgravity, describing the ISS as equivalent to a 6 BHK house where the mind must switch from a 2D to a 3D concept of space. The bulletin also notes that President Draupadi Murmu awarded 70 others on the eve of Republic Day, including Colonel Sophia Qureshi, who received the Vishisht Seva Medal for her role in Operation Sindoor. The programme highlights India's growing stature as a spacefaring economy and the significance of these honours for the armed forces and future space missions like Gaganyaan.

On this Special Report, we highlight the historic achievement of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who has been conferred with the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. Shukla created history as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom 4 mission. During his address, he stated, 'Today in 2025, the Indian flag reached the International Space Station for the first time.' He shared fascinating insights into life in microgravity, describing the ISS as equivalent to a 'six BHK house' and explaining the mental shift required to navigate a 3D environment where objects do not fall. Shukla, an experienced fighter pilot with over 2000 flying hours on aircraft like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, is the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. The programme captures his extraordinary journey and the inspiration he provides to future generations as India marks its giant leap into space exploration.

Speaking on India Today podcast UnPolitics, Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams reflects on her 27-year career and recent retirement announcement during a broadcast from a literature festival in India. Williams addressed media speculation regarding her health during her extended stay on the International Space Station, clarifying that she returned in good health despite the physical challenges of zero gravity.

In an exclusive interview with India Today's Preeti Choudhry, space icon Sunita Williams spoke on life beyond active space flight, her love for animals, her bond with Kalpana Chawla and much more.

On this India Today special report, Akshita Nandagopal examines the recent failure of ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission launched from Sriharikota. The bulletin highlights that while the first two stages were successful, a critical pressure drop in the third stage led to 'disturbances in the roll' and a subsequent loss of trajectory. Akshita Nandagopal notes that this follows a similar pattern seen in the PSLV-C61 launch in May 2025. The mission was carrying a DRDO maritime surveillance satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites. Shibu Tripathi, Senior Assistant Editor, joins the discussion to explain that while most payloads were lost, a reentry capsule from a Spanish startup reportedly survived. Despite the setback, the PSLV remains ISRO's workhorse, though back-to-back failures in the third stage have raised concerns regarding manufacturing inconsistencies or micro defects. ISRO is expected to form a committee to investigate the exact cause of the combustion instability.

A setback for India's space programme as ISRO's first launch of 2026, the PSLV-C62 mission, has encountered a significant failure. While the liftoff was successful, an anomaly was detected during the third stage (PS3) burn, causing a flight deviation. The mission's primary payload, the 'Anvesha' earth observation satellite developed by the DRDO, is now feared to be lost. In addition to Anvesha, the mission was carrying 15 other satellites from multiple countries, including the UK, Nepal, and Brazil, as well as payloads from Indian start-ups like Dhruva Space and Orbit Aid. This incident raises concerns as it follows the failure of the PSLV-C61 mission in May 2025, which was also lost due to technical issues. A detailed analysis of the PSLV-C62 failure has been initiated by the space agency.

India's space programme marks a major milestone with the first launch of 2026, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully sends the PSLV-C62 rocket into orbit from Sriharikota. This mission represents a significant comeback for the PSLV, described as ISRO's 'trusted workhorse', following an aborted mission in 2025. The primary payload is Anvesha, a powerful surveillance satellite designed to track troop movements, terrain changes, and crop patterns with high precision. The broadcast captures the 'majestic lift off', calling it a 'roaring 2026 comeback for the hero PSLV rocket, reaffirming India's rising space dominance'. The launch also includes several other smaller satellites, making it a 'desi-videshi combo space launch' and showcasing India's growing capabilities in space exploration and satellite deployment.

India celebrates the successful launch of PSLV-C62, marking ISRO’s first desi-videshi satellite collaboration of 2026. The vehicle carries 17 satellites, with Anvesha, the advanced Earth observation satellite, described as ‘India’s Hawkeye in space’ for its surveillance capabilities in tracking troop movements, terrain changes, and crop patterns with high accuracy. The transcript highlights that ‘the important aspect the first and primary satellite here is something called as an earth observation satellite which is called Anvesha,’ designed and manufactured by DRDO. The launch underscores ISRO’s rising space dominance, using the PSLV workhorse from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The bulletin also notes piggyback satellites such as the KID mission, broadening international cooperation in space research and technology.

In this special report, India Today covers ISRO's first major space mission of 2026, a 'desi-videshi' liftoff from Sriharikota. The PSLV rocket successfully launched 17 satellites, with the primary payload being Anvesha, an advanced Earth Observation Satellite developed by the DRDO. According to India Today's Pramod Madhav, this satellite is a 'very important Hawkeye that will help us in maintaining our borders, help us in need of any kind of assistance during any kind of calamity or disaster and such.' The mission also deployed 16 other satellites, including the KID mission, a re-entry vehicle demonstrator for a Spanish startup. The launch marks a significant step for India's space programme, enhancing its surveillance capabilities and fostering international space collaboration.

India's space programme begins 2026 with a significant milestone as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launches its PSLV-C62 mission. This launch represents a 'Desi-Videshi combo,' carrying both Indian and international payloads. The primary payload is the 'Anvesha' satellite, described in the report as 'India's hawk eye in the space, a powerful surveillance satellite tracking troop movement, terrain changes, and crop patterns with pinpoint accuracy.' The launch, which took place at 10:18 am, marks a roaring comeback for the PSLV rocket, reaffirming its status as ISRO's trusted workhorse. The bulletin highlights the PSLV's legacy, noting its crucial role in historic missions like Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission, and the Aditya-L1 solar mission, reinforcing India's growing dominance in space exploration.

In this exclusive report, Blue Blocks Montessori School Co-Founder Munira Hussain discusses a groundbreaking achievement by 17 Hyderabad students. The high schoolers have engineered a CubeSat payload set to launch aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission on January 12 at 10:17 AM from Sriharikota. 'Teen minds are literally aiming for space,' as the students, including Grade 10 pupil Tanshree Parthi, collaborated with TakeMe2Space to design the satellite. The project, spanning over two years, involves sensors for temperature, humidity, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. Founder Pawan Goyal explains that the students tested these sensors by attaching the satellite to a drone and flying it at an altitude of half a kilometer to collect data. The payload has received official authorization from IN-SPACe, proving that age is no barrier to innovation.

This episode of 5 Live focusses on the contaminated water crisis in West Delhi's Kunwar Singh Colony.

The big talking point of this episode of News Today is Unnao rape survivor's fight for justice after the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former MLA convicted in the 2017 rape case.

In this news update, the focus is on the successful launch of the BlueBird Block-2 satellite by ISRO's LVM-3 rocket from Sriharikota. The mission marks a significant milestone as the 'Bahubali' rocket places the heaviest American satellite ever launched from Indian soil, weighing 6100 kilograms, into orbit. The report highlights the strengthening India-US space partnership and the satellite's capability to enable direct-to-mobile space connectivity, linking satellites straight to smartphones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is quoted calling the event a 'proud milestone' that strengthens India's role in the global launch market. The segment concludes with the 'image of the day' showcasing the flawless liftoff.

The big focus of this episode of 5 Live is Delhi's severe air pollution crisis, with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari admitting that vehicular emissions contribute to 40% of the problem and cause him to fall ill.

A historic political reunion is underway as cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray announce an alliance for the critical BMC elections, a move aimed at consolidating the Marathi vote to 'save Maharashtra'.

In a historic achievement for India's space programme, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the country's heaviest commercial payload, the US-based BlueBird Block 2 satellite. Lifting off from Sriharikota, the LVM-3 'Bahubali' rocket placed the 6,100 kg satellite into orbit, marking its sixth operational flight. The mission aims to provide direct-to-mobile space-based connectivity, linking satellites directly with smartphones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the feat, stating it 'strengthened the country's heavy-lift capability' and boosted India's role in the global launch market. Union Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team for the agency's continuing streak of achievements. The launch underscores the growing India-US space collaboration and cements India's position among elite spacefaring nations.

This news bulletin presents a comprehensive roundup of major developments across South India. In Tamil Nadu, a political alliance stages protests against the renaming of the MGNREGA scheme, citing cultural concerns. The report highlights a growing crisis in Telangana's public education system, where several government schools have recorded zero enrollment due to migration and preference for private institutions. In Kerala, the election commission's draft voter list has excluded over 24 lakh names under various categories. The bulletin also covers the successful launch of the LVM3 mission by ISRO from Andhra Pradesh and reports on Lokayukta raids targeting a minister's aide in Karnataka regarding a disproportionate assets case. Additionally, a controversy involving an actor's remarks on women is discussed.