President Murmu Inaugurates Visitor’s Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the two-day Visitor’s Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, bringing together heads of 184 central institutes of higher education to discuss the future of India’s education system.

In her inaugural address, President Murmu emphasized that the development of a nation is directly linked to the quality of its education system. She urged higher education institutions to focus on research alongside education and highlighted the National Research Fund as a key initiative to support innovation. Expressing confidence that Indian researchers will gain global recognition, she stated that universities should aim for patents and research breakthroughs that have a global impact.

The President also stressed the importance of retaining Indian talent within the country. She noted that students from India enrich the world’s leading educational institutions and developed economies with their expertise, but efforts must be made to utilize this talent domestically. She said that establishing India as a Global Knowledge Superpower would only be possible when the world looks to India’s laboratories for solutions.

Calling for an inclusive and socially sensitive education system, she insisted that no economic, social, or psychological barriers should hinder students from pursuing higher education. She urged university leaders and faculty members to support young students, provide counseling, and foster a positive learning environment. She also encouraged them to spread moral and spiritual strength among students to help them overcome challenges.

The President highlighted India’s rich scientific heritage and urged universities to rediscover and integrate ancient Indian knowledge systems with modern science and technology. She reiterated that educational institutions play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future and called on them to develop young minds with a global vision and national pride.

As part of the conference, President Murmu presented the 8th Visitor’s Awards in recognition of excellence in innovation, research, and technology development. Prof. Saripella Srikrishna of Banaras Hindu University was honored for pioneering work in quantum technology supporting the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia of the University of Hyderabad was recognized for groundbreaking research in developing high-bioavailability pharmaceuticals. In the field of biological sciences, the award was jointly presented to Prof. Rina Chakrabarti of the University of Delhi for her contributions to sustainable freshwater aquaculture, and Prof. Raj Kumar of Central University of Punjab for his research in cancer treatments and synthetic anticancer molecules. Dr. Venkateswarlu Chintala of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya received the award for technology development for his work on producing petrol and diesel from plastic waste at a commercial scale.

The conference will continue tomorrow with discussions on key educational reforms, including flexible academic courses with multiple entry-exit options, international collaborations, translational research, and student assessment mechanisms in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his opening remarks, expressed gratitude to President Murmu for her leadership in transforming higher education. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing NEP 2020, describing it as a blueprint for reshaping India’s education system. He emphasized that education must move beyond degrees and focus on nurturing thinkers, innovators, and job creators. He urged academic institutions to collaborate, break institutional silos, and share best practices to ensure long-term impact.

Calling for a knowledge-driven and self-reliant India, he stressed that higher education institutions would be the driving force behind “Viksit Bharat 2047”, India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by its centenary of independence. The conference is expected to pave the way for holistic educational reforms, ensuring that India’s higher education system meets global benchmarks while empowering youth and strengthening the workforce.