New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged graduating students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to focus on continuous learning and personal growth rather than measuring their success against others.
Modi was the chief guest at the 57th convocation of IIT Delhi, where degrees were awarded to more than 3,000 students, including 587 PhD scholars.
Addressing the graduating batch, the Prime Minister said an IIT education should be viewed as more than an academic qualification. According to him, the institute equips students with the ability to tackle difficult problems while also placing a responsibility on them to use their knowledge for the country’s progress.
‘Life’s examination has no fixed syllabus’
Reflecting on his earlier participation in an IIT Delhi convocation through video conferencing during the COVID-19 period, Modi said being physically present at the institute for the occasion made the event particularly meaningful.
He told students that the pace of technological development would continue to accelerate and that the world they encounter over the next two or three decades could be very different from the one they know today.
While industries, technologies and career paths may undergo major changes, he said the ability to keep learning would remain relevant.
Drawing a distinction between academic examinations and real life, Modi said students at IIT are accustomed to examinations based on a defined syllabus, whereas “in the examination of life, everything is out of syllabus.”
He encouraged the graduates to remain curious, question conventional thinking and develop the confidence to look for solutions when faced with unfamiliar problems.
AI and advanced computing take centre stage
During his visit, Modi also inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered high-performance computing facility at IIT Delhi’s Sonipat campus.
The facility was highlighted in the context of India’s growing focus on artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and advanced technological capabilities.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the expanding opportunities available to young professionals and researchers in areas including space technology, semiconductors, drones, artificial intelligence, data centres, critical minerals, quantum computing, electric mobility and energy storage.
He said India’s startup ecosystem and digital economy have benefited significantly from the innovation and entrepreneurial efforts of young people.
Modi encourages students to pursue research
Research, Modi said, represents another major area of opportunity for India’s youth.
He referred to government initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, Research, Development and Innovation Scheme and Anusandhan National Research Foundation, while calling for greater participation by young researchers in strengthening India’s scientific and innovation ecosystem.
The Prime Minister also asked graduates to view their individual careers in the larger context of India’s development ambitions and to consider the national interest when taking important decisions.
‘Life is not a leaderboard’
Towards the conclusion of his address, Modi cautioned students against falling into the habit of comparing their salaries, professional positions or achievements with those of their peers.
He specifically referred to the pressure created by social media, where people often compare their progress with carefully presented versions of other people’s lives.
His message to the graduates was to concentrate instead on their own development and progress.
“Life is not a leaderboard. Your real race is not with someone else; it is with yourself,” Modi said.
He urged the students to continue learning, remain inquisitive and treat their graduation not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a new phase filled with challenges and opportunities.
