President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Visitor’s Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, underscoring the transformative role of higher education in shaping India’s future. Addressing heads of 184 Central Institutes of Higher Education, she emphasized that the true measure of a nation’s progress lies in the strength of its education system.
Stressing the need to prioritize research alongside academics, Murmu highlighted the National Research Fund, established to support groundbreaking studies. She expressed confidence that Indian institutions would make full use of this initiative, fostering innovation that could gain global recognition. She envisioned an academic landscape where Indian researchers earn international acclaim, patents from Indian institutions drive change worldwide, and students from developed countries seek India as a preferred destination for higher education.
The President acknowledged the significant contributions of Indian students across prestigious global institutions and advanced economies. However, she urged educational leaders to find ways to retain and utilize this talent within India. She asserted that India’s ambition to become a Global Knowledge Superpower would only be realized when innovations from Indian laboratories are eagerly adopted by the international community.
Beyond academic excellence, Murmu emphasized the importance of social inclusion in education. She called for a system where no student faces barriers—whether economic, social, or psychological—in accessing higher education. Encouraging faculty members to support students beyond academics, she urged them to eliminate insecurities, provide moral and emotional strength, and cultivate an atmosphere of positivity within campuses.
She also reflected on India’s deep-rooted tradition of scientific achievements, emphasizing the need for intensive research to rediscover and adapt indigenous knowledge systems to modern contexts. She placed the onus on academic institutions to integrate these organic knowledge streams into contemporary education, ensuring they remain relevant in today’s world.
During the conference, the President presented the eighth Visitor’s Awards to recognize outstanding contributions in innovation, research, and technology development. Prof. Saripella Srikrishna of Banaras Hindu University was honored for his groundbreaking work in quantum technology, which supports the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia from the University of Hyderabad received recognition for his pioneering research in high-bioavailability drugs, aimed at enhancing pharmaceutical efficacy at an affordable cost.
In the field of biological sciences, the award was jointly presented to Prof. Rina Chakrabarti from the University of Delhi, for her contributions to sustainable freshwater aquaculture, and Prof. Raj Kumar of the Central University of Punjab, for his research on cancer hallmarks and the development of synthetic anticancer molecules. The technology development award was conferred upon Dr. Venkateswarlu Chintala of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, whose work on converting plastic waste into commercial-scale petrol and diesel has significant environmental and economic implications.
The second day of the conference will focus on key discussions, including flexibility in academic courses, international collaborations, translational research, effective student selection processes under the National Education Policy (NEP), and innovation commercialization. The conclusions from these deliberations will be presented to the President during the closing session.
(Inputs from ANI)
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