Dhanbad: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday called upon the graduating students of IIT-ISM Dhanbad to become catalysts in the realization of Viksit Bharat by 2047, urging them to blend innovation, compassion, and sustainability in their future endeavours.
She was addressing the 45th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology – Indian School of Mines (IIT-ISM), Dhanbad, during her two-day visit to Jharkhand.
Marking a century of excellence, President Murmu unveiled a special commemorative postal stamp celebrating 100 years of the prestigious institute. In a highlight of the ceremony, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. P. K. Mishra, was conferred with an honorary D.Sc. degree for his contributions to public service.
In her keynote address, President Murmu lauded the institute’s historic legacy and encouraged students to embrace technological advancement with a human touch. “Institutions like IITs must not only create world-class engineers but also nurture minds that are empathetic, grounded, and socially conscious,” she said.
She emphasized the need to embed research, interdisciplinary learning, and a culture of innovation and patents in the technical education system. She also underscored the importance of startups and green technologies in addressing contemporary challenges. “Use your skills to build a Green India and develop sustainable solutions that preserve nature while benefiting society,” she urged.
Highlighting India’s demographic dividend, the President noted, “Our greatest strength lies in our human capital. Widespread access to technical education and digital literacy is positioning India as an emerging technological superpower.”
President Murmu praised IIT-ISM’s initiative to establish a Tribal Centre of Excellence aimed at solving grassroots challenges through innovation and technology. She also appreciated the institute’s outreach efforts to provide digital learning tools to tribal communities and witnessed an exhibition by tribal women on community innovations at the Atal Innovation Centre.
During the convocation, degrees were conferred on 1,880 students, including 1,055 undergraduates and 711 postgraduates across various disciplines. The event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Jharkhand Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan, and the state’s Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar.
