Was china liles behid of India prior to doing this?
No, China is never behind in India in space technology. Even JAXA is ahead of ISRO. JAXA has HT-1 heavy rocket that can lift 16tons rocket to LEO which is the basic reason why UAE seek Japan help for Mars mission and not India. Becos ISRO are incapable of helping UAE.
Not to mention JAXA master space station core building technology with their space lab send to ISS and even do an autonomous docking with ISS. ISRO got nothing compare to JAXA. JUst becos India has a successful mars orbiter inserting into Mars with NASA help, still cant hide the fact ISRO are behind in JAXA.
Not to mention compare ISRO to CNSA. CNSA master heavy rocket payload capacity, manned mission. Space walk capabilities, space station building capabilities, autonomous docking
Not to mention Moon and Mars exploration and landing capabilities.
ISRO need to work hard instead of chest thumping with false hope it has any edge or advantage over these tradition Asian space powerhouse.