The Vice-President of India, Sh C. P. Radhakrishnan, graced the 20th Convocation Ceremony of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, Haryana today as the Chief Guest. 

Governor of Haryana, Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Chief Minister of Haryana, Sh Nayab Singh Saini, Director NIT Kurukshetra, Prof. B.V. Ramana Reddy, Chairperson, Board of Governors, NIT Kurukshetra, Dr. Tejaswini Anantha Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President expressed his privilege in joining the milestone event of one of India’s premier technical institutions. He hailed NIT Kurukshetra as an institution with a rich legacy, a vibrant present, and a future that continues to shape the standards of technical education in the country. 

The Vice-President noted that a convocation is not merely a ceremony but a moment when years of dedication transform into a new beginning filled with pride, hope, and opportunity. 

Highlighting the pace of global transformation, he spoke about developments in artificial intelligence, renewable energy systems, space technology, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and semiconductors. 

He stressed that technology has become a powerful enabler reshaping industries and redefining the way society functions. He urged students to innovate responsibly, stating that “the true purpose of technology is not progress alone, but progress with purpose.” 

Encouraging students to delve deeper into research, innovation, and India-specific problem-solving, he said that these are the twin engines that will drive India’s technological leadership. He emphasized the need for young innovators to explore emerging areas of national importance such as sustainable manufacturing, smart mobility, quantum technologies, healthcare technologies, agricultural innovation, and green infrastructure. 

The Vice-President observed that India is transitioning from being a consumer of technology to becoming a global creator of advanced solutions. He credited initiatives like Digital India, Startup India, and Make in India for nurturing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and urged graduates to convert their ideas into enterprises that create jobs and contribute to national growth. 

Acknowledging contemporary global challenges — climate change, cybersecurity threats, equitable access to technology, and the ethical use of AI — he said that these also offer immense opportunities for innovation and leadership. He praised the foresight of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP)–2020, which provides avenues for multidisciplinary learning and is deeply rooted in India’s culture, heritage, and ethos. The Vice-President noted that NEP 2020 has placed India on a transformative path by breaking away from the colonial imprint of the Macaulay education system, which, he said, was introduced to rule India and produced only clerks. 

Appreciating the Institute’s focus on holistic learning, he lauded the establishment of the Centre for Holistic Personality Development (CHPD), which promotes intellectual, emotional, and ethical growth through courses on the Bhagavad Gita, Universal Human Values, cognitive science, and mental health. 

Describing the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, the Vice-President expressed confidence that graduates of NIT Kurukshetra will play a key role in realizing this goal. He noted with appreciation that the Institute has been awarded 64 patents so far, reflecting its strong culture of research, innovation, and intellectual property creation. 

He commended the Institute’s significant contributions to advanced technologies in AI-based warfare, defence research, and space missions such as Chandrayaan and the Mars Orbiter Mission through collaborations with DRDO and ISRO. He also appreciated the Institute’s efforts toward Atma Nirbhar Bharat through research on low-cost, indigenous technologies aimed at improving lives in villages and slums. 

Urging students to stay connected to India’s development journey, he said that research should help bridge the urban–rural divide, empower MSMEs, modernize agriculture, and support rural economies so that technology reaches the last person. “We must move from brain drain to brain gain,” he said, encouraging graduates to carry India in their hearts wherever they go. 

Expressing his aspirations for India’s youth, he stated, “I believe that the next Google, the next Tesla, the next SpaceX must emerge from India — from institutions like NIT Kurukshetra.”  

The Vice-President also appealed to students to lead a disciplined life by saying “No to Drugs”.    

Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh said that NIT Kurukshetra, which is emerging as an important pillar of India’s research and innovation ecosystem, will continue to attain new heights of glory and achievement in the coming times. Governor Prof. Ghosh was addressing young graduates and medal recipients at the 20th Convocation of NIT Kurukshetra today. The Vice President of India, Sh C.P. Radhakrishnan graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while the Chief Minister of Haryana, Sh Nayab Singh Saini attended as the Guest of Honour.  

On this occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini stated that innovation is the only way to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world. He urged the degree holders and medalists to apply their knowledge and skills to simplify and solve societal problems. He emphasized that the youth play a vital role in realizing Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India. The responsibility of leading the nation toward a developed India rests on their shoulders. Therefore, young people should not only aspire for jobs but also strive to become job creators, solution providers and pioneers of innovation.

On this occasion, Dr. Tejaswini Anantha Kumar, Chairperson of the Board of Governors, NIT Kurukshetra; Prof. B.V. Ramana Reddy, Director, NIT Kurukshetra and other dignitaries were also present.