PM Modi at IIT Delhi Convocation Urges More Women Among Medal Winners

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 57th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on Saturday, presenting the institute's highest honours to meritorious students. The ceremony, held at the main campus, brought together thousands of students, faculty members, and dignitaries to celebrate the achievements of the graduating class.

During his address, PM Modi congratulated the award-winning students but expressed his wish for more female students among the recipients. "Many students have received medals for their achievements. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all of you. However, it would have been even better if there were a few more girls among them. Sorry. Why just one or two? There should have been more," he said.

The Prime Minister conferred several prestigious honours, including the President's Gold Medal, the Director's Gold Medal, the Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, and the Perfect Ten Gold Medals. These awards recognise exceptional academic performance, research contributions, and all-round excellence among students.

PM Modi also called upon the graduates to work towards increasing the participation and representation of women in academic and professional fields. He emphasised that young professionals have a role to play in ensuring that women receive equal opportunities to excel in their chosen careers.

In a significant move, the Prime Minister inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility at IIT Delhi's Sonipat campus. The facility is designed to support research and development in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and complex simulations, potentially benefiting scientists and engineers across the country.

The convocation ceremony witnessed over 3,000 students receiving their degrees, including 587 PhD scholars. The large number of doctoral graduates highlights the institute's commitment to advanced research and doctoral training.

IIT Delhi, which is consistently ranked among India's top engineering institutions, has produced numerous leaders in technology and entrepreneurship. The convocation ceremony is an annual tradition that marks the culmination of students' academic journeys.

The Prime Minister's observation about the number of female medal winners draws attention to the broader issue of gender diversity in STEM fields. Over the years, the Indian Institutes of Technology have seen an increasing intake of women students, but the representation of women among top performers has been a point of discussion among educators and policymakers.

IIT Delhi Board of Governors Chairperson Harish Salve and institute director Professor Rangan Banerjee felicitated PM Modi and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi during the event.

Ahead of the ceremony, PM Modi had announced his participation on the social media platform X, praising IIT Delhi's contributions to research and innovation. In his message, he stated, "At 11 AM tomorrow, 8th August, I will be attending the Convocation Ceremony at IIT Delhi. I look forward to being among the students and teachers of this pioneering institution. IIT Delhi has always made a rich contribution in the fields of research and innovation."