New Delhi: The 57th Convocation Ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi was held at the Institute campus in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister congratulated the graduating students and said that their IIT Delhi degree represents not merely academic achievement, but the ability to tackle difficult problems and find solutions to complex challenges.
Addressing the graduating students, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the rapidly changing global landscape, saying that strategic equations and the global balance of power are changing rapidly, driven largely by the speed of technological advancement. He urged students to remember that those who continue learning will succeed and encouraged them to turn emerging challenges into opportunities by developing new solutions.
The Prime Minister said that every generation has its own national responsibility. He noted that while earlier generations had fought for India’s independence through sacrifice and struggle, the present generation has a different responsibility. He said that the next 30–35 years of the graduating students’ lives will have a significant impact on India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat. He urged them to consider how their decisions can benefit the country and help meet its needs, particularly as India works towards economic, technological and industrial self-reliance.
PM Modi highlighted several emerging sectors where young Indians have new opportunities, including Artificial Intelligence, data centres, critical minerals, deep-sea exploration, batteries, power storage, energy security, electric mobility and quantum computing. He said these areas are waiting for the talent, innovation and leadership of India’s youth.
The Prime Minister cited India’s progress in the space, semiconductor and drone sectors as examples of opportunities created through policy reforms. He said India’s young people are now developing launch vehicles and rockets, while semiconductor production has begun in the country. He also highlighted the growing use of drones in agriculture, healthcare and national defence and security.
He also praised India’s startup revolution, noting that IIT Delhi has produced numerous founders and that developments such as unicorns, digital payments and the FinTech revolution have opened new opportunities for millions of young Indians.
Emphasising the importance of research, PM Modi said India has a growing need for new research and is strengthening its research ecosystem. He highlighted initiatives including the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, Research Development and Innovation Scheme, and the National Research Foundation. He said arrangements are being made for funding of up to ₹1 lakh crore for the research sector.
The Prime Minister also referred to the One Nation One Subscription initiative, under which prestigious international research journals are being made accessible across the country without additional cost. He said India still has a long distance to cover in research and stressed that the country has both expectations from and confidence in its young researchers.
Addressing the graduating students personally, PM Modi advised them not to get distracted by comparisons over salary packages, companies, cities, countries or startup success. He said that life is not a leaderboard and that the real competition is with oneself. He encouraged students to strive to become better than they were the previous day while also taking care of their physical and mental health.
During the convocation, the Prime Minister also congratulated the students who received medals and awards for their achievements. The ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter for the graduating students as they move from campus life into professional and other spheres, with PM Modi urging them to carry forward the values, relationships and learning gained at IIT Delhi.
