True purpose of tech is progress with purpose: Vice President

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan today called upon students to innovate responsibly, and stated that the true purpose of technology is not progress alone, but progress with purpose. He was addressing the 20th convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra.

The Vice-President noted that a convocation is not merely a ceremony but a moment when years of dedication transform into a new beginning filled with pride, hope and opportunity. Expressing his aspirations for India’s youth, he stated, “I believe that the next Google, the next Tesla, the next SpaceX must emerge from India — from institutions like NIT Kurukshetra.”

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-President said that Kurukshetra is a holy land that reminds us that dharma will always triumph over adharma. Year 2025 is very different from the world even five years ago. The world is changing every day. There has been a big change in the campus life and the outside world. Technology is changing rapidly in the field of artificial intelligence, renewable energy systems, space technology, biotechnology, cybersecurity and semiconductors. In today’s world, each field is undergoing transformation, at a pace humanity has never seen before. Technology today has become a powerful enabler that is reshaping industries and redefining innovations and reimagining the way society functions.

Encouraging students to delve deeper into research, innovation and India-specific problem-solving, he said that these are the twin engines that would drive India’s technological leadership.

“Always remember that the true purpose of technology is not progress alone, but progress with purpose. The young innovators need to explore emerging areas of national importance such as sustainable manufacturing, smart mobility, quantum technologies, healthcare technologies, agricultural innovation and green infrastructure,” he added.

The Vice-President observed that India is transitioning from being a consumer of technology to becoming a global creator of advanced solutions. He credited initiatives like Digital India, Startup India and Make in India for nurturing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and urged graduates to convert their ideas into enterprises that create jobs and contribute to national growth.

Acknowledging contemporary global challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity threats and equitable access to technology, he said that these also offer immense opportunities for innovation and leadership.

He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP)–2020 and said that NEP has placed India on a transformative path by breaking away from the colonial imprint of the Macaulay education system, which, he said, was introduced to rule India and largely produced clerks.

Urging students to stay connected to India’s development journey, he said, “We must move from brain drain to brain gain.” He appealed to students to lead a disciplined life by saying “No to Drugs”. He urged them to serve society with creativity, humility and compassion.

Haryana Governor Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh said that NIT Kurukshetra, which is emerging as an important pillar of India’s research and innovation ecosystem, would continue to attain new heights of glory and achievement in the coming times.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated that innovation is the only way to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world. He urged the degree holders and medallists to apply their knowledge and skills to simplify and solve societal problems.

Director NIT Kurukshetra, Prof BV Ramana Reddy, Chairperson, Board of Governors, NIT Kurukshetra, Dr Tejaswini Anantha Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

In the convocation ceremony, a total of 1,494 degrees were awarded to candidates who passed out during academic session 2024-25. These included BTech, MTech, MBA, MCA, MSc and PhD degrees having 1,037 UG (BTech) and 397 PG degrees. As many as 60 students were awarded the degree of doctor of philosophy (PhD). The convocation ceremony included conferment of digital degrees.

A total of 36 gold medals were awarded to various branch-wise and program-wise toppers. Shri Shyam Sundar Dhingra Gold Medal award was conferred to overall topper of BTech programme Nipun Tripathi of BTech (Electrical Engineering).