The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has chosen the youngest of its astronaut-designates as the prime astronaut to fly on the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The prime astronaut will be Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who recently got promoted.

A ‘prime astronaut’ is one who is chosen to fly, but a backup astronaut is always kept, in case at the last minute due to any mishap a swap needs to be undertaken.

He was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on October 10, 1985. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned on June 17, 2006 in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

He is a Fighter Combat Leader and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience. He has flown a variety of aircraft including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32, among others.

The back-up astronaut will be Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, the oldest of the astronaut-designates. He was born in Kerala’s Thiruvazhiyad on August 26, 1976. He is also an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and a recipient of the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. He was commissioned on December 19, 1998 in the fighter stream of the IAF.

Group Captain Nair is a Category-A flying Instructor – the highest that a pilot can achieve, and a test pilot with approximately 3,000 hours of flying experience. He has also flown several aircraft including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier and An-32.

He is an alumnus of the United States Staff College and a Directing Staff at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Flying Instructors School, Tambaram.  He has commanded a Sukhoi-30MKI squadron.

Till date, India has had only one cosmonaut or astronaut in space – Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew on an Indo-Soviet mission in 1984.

Experts said ISRO has rightly chosen the youngest of the four designated astronauts as the prime candidate since the Gaganyaan programme is a long-term mission and having a young astronaut helps to fulfil that long-term vision. India seeks to send a human to the Moon by 2040.

“Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc., USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris as prime and backup mission pilot for this mission,” ISRO said in a statement.

The astronauts will be finally approved to fly to the ISS by the multilateral crew operations panel (MCOP). The Gaganyatris will begin training for the mission starting this week. During the mission, they will undertake scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS as well as engage in space outreach activities.

The experiences gained during this mission will be beneficial for the Indian Human Space Programme. It will also strengthen human space flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA.

This Indo-US flight was initiated after both nations signed a joint statement during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June 2023.

The government is rolling out a new security matrix for Jammu and Kashmir to counter targeting of civilians and military personnel and camps by terrorists in recent weeks and months, including an attack on an Army camp in Rajouri last week, in which one soldier was injured.

In fact, in the past two months attacks and ambushes have become regular events, particularly in the southern reaches of Pir Panjal, an area in which the spectre of terrorism had lain dormant for a long time. Among recent scares there was an operation in which two Army officers were killed and two Pakistani terrorists, one of them a Lashkar-e-Taiba sniper and explosives expert, eliminated.

Overall, casualties among security forces have doubled this year compared to the past three. NDTV has accessed data that shows 17 security personnel, and as many civilians, have been killed this year.

A senior official told NDTV the increased number of military casualties is the forces’ “primary concern” and this is why deployment in the area is being rationalised with new combinations.

A senior Home Ministry official said the government “cannot lose sight of the Kashmir Valley but, at the same time, we need to secure the Jammu region also”.

This is why, the official explained, forces were being mobilised for deployment.

Primary Goal: Plug Infiltration

Security audits by various agencies indicates terrorists – with help from guides, some of whom are locals – use different routes to cross the Line of Control in the valley and the International Border in Jammu sector. Around two dozen sectors where infiltration has been recorded have been identified.

Also, weapons are being smuggled in or dropped via drones.

The government has begun a project to fence borders but, so far in Jammu, only 70 of 180 km have been fenced, while flood lightning has been completed for only 40 km. The challenge includes the fact it is difficult to patrol areas marked as riverine with elephant grass in the rainy season.

Now, two battalions of BSF, or Border Security Force, troops comprising of 2,000 personnel have been airlifted from Odisha. They will be in Samba sector and plug gaps on the Jammu-Punjab border.

Incidentally, this comes after RR Swain, the Director-General of J&K Police, identified Punjab as one of the main routes of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

Keeping Highways Secure

The latest intelligence suggests terrorists might also conduct attacks on highways – described as “lifelines” – and this is why the government has decided to deploy CRPF, or Central Reserve Police Force, with local cops. All troop movement normally takes place on highways.

An official told NDTV highways and adjoining areas are being mapped and drones are being used to locate movements of terrorists and/or sympathisers.

Focus On Capacity-Building

Improved communications and logistics is also a priority area for the government.

At meetings held at the Home Ministry, on-ground security agencies have been asked to enhance these systems. The government wants an airtight security grid and that any movement detected in any sector in the area be reported and met with a swift response.

Better cooperation can also reduce casualties, the officer said.

Troops Deployed For Enhanced Tactical Efficiency

The new grid will ensure a ‘surprise’ element that is essential for any counter-terror operation to succeed. As per the new matrix, the term ‘operations’ will include combination of all tactics.

READ | 48 Soldiers Killed In J&K In 32 Months. Timeline Of Major Attacks

Till now movement of forces was being marked by terrorists, and they were attacking and laying ambushes. Now, with a new grid in place, security forces are certain they will ‘smoke them out’.

There will be regular patrolling of far-flung areas and the primary focus will be on intelligence-based covert ops, officials explained, adding smaller teams would enjoy better coordination.

Assam Rifles In Jammu

The Assam Rifles are to be deployed in Jammu; this is not the first time this elite force will operate in J&K as they were included in security arrangements during the Amarnath Yatra. Now, however, they will also be involved in new deployments and be active players in the new security grid.

As many as 1,500 troops will be deployed under the operational control of the Army, with the focus of these assets to “secure peaks and upper reaches”.

Para-Commandos Deployed Also

Redeployment of the Army is also aimed at tackling foreign-origin terrorists who are battle-hardened. As per estimates, a group of about 80 such terrorists are moving around, in small groups, in the upper reaches of Pir Panjal.

READ | South Of Pir Panjal, Terrorism’s New Address In Jammu And Kashmir

The government has sanctioned the use of 200 APVs, or armour-protected vehicles. This comes after a July 5 attack in Kathua district in which five soldiers were killed, and five others injured, after twin attacks on a military convoy.

SOG Camps In Strategic Areas

The Special Operations Group is technically part of J&K Police but the way they handle terror-related situations is different. They can launch ops on short notice and hold fort till reinforcements arrive.

READ | PM Modi Chairs Security Meet Amid Rising Terror Attacks In Jammu

Their main task now will be to “generate intelligence” since many are locals and can mix with the population. This will allow the government to strengthen the security grid. The presence of SOG troops will also instill confidence among the local population, the government believes.

The SOG can also co-opt Village Defence Guards to enhance local security grids.

Focus On Human Intelligence

Over the past five years most successful counter-insurgency ops were due to technological intelligence-based information. However, the NIA believes terrorists are now using encrypted apps to mislead security agencies. This reinforces the need for human intelligence to complement tech.

All of this comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security – which also includes Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

READ | PM Modi Chairs Security Meet Amid Rising Terror Attacks In Jammu

Last month Mr Modi chaired a meet to assess the J&K security situation. Sources told NDTV the PM directed full deployment of armed forces’ counter-terror capabilities.

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