PM Narendra Modi delivers convocation address at IIT-Bombay
PM Narendra Modi delivered the convocation address at the 56th annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mumbai on Saturday to deliver the convocation address at the 56th annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. He reached the institute at 11 am.
PM Modi, who is also the chief guest for the 56th edition, said he was looking forward to interacting with ‘bright youngsters’.
“Leaving for Mumbai, where I will join the convocation ceremony at IIT-B. Looking forward to interacting with bright youngsters. Will also inaugurate the new building of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering as well as Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering,” he said earlier today.
Incidentally, it is the first time that the PM attended a programme at IIT-B since taking office.
Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar, Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion.
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion
“We have invited the Prime Minister this time because it is our diamond jubilee year. It is a very special occasion and we have invited him specifically for that,” Dean, Student Affairs, Soumyo Mukherjee was quoted as saying.
After the convocation, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate a building for the department of energy science & engineering, and the centre for environmental science and engineering at the institute.
A total of 2,621 degrees, including 380 PhD degrees, will be awarded today.
IIT-B, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, was recently recognised as an “Institution of Eminence” from the HRD ministry. It is now eligible for a grant of Rs 1,000 crore over a five year period.
The decision to invite the PM for the annual convocation was not without its share of controversy as several student groups raised concerns over the centre’s ‘anti-student’ policies.
The concerns were reportedly regarding the low budget allocations for higher education, shortcomings of Higher Education Committee of India (HECI) Bill, and discontinuation of Government of India-Post Matric Scholarship for reserved category students in institutes like the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
PM’s speech at the convocation ceremony at IIT-Bombay:
Delighted to address the convocation ceremony at IIT-B. Here is my speech.` https://t.co/KNj8u9AfNz
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 11, 2018
