Maintaining that the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) always lays emphasis on innovation, Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday called upon the IIT students to focus on starting something new.
“IIT always lays emphasis on academic excellence and innovation, and students passing from this premier institute should focus on starting something new,” said Irani while delivering her convocation address at the IIT Bhubaneswar.
The fourth convocation of IIT Bhubaneswar was held in its permanent campus at Argul, located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. The Minister urged the students to showcase their inherent talents and said their good qualities and innovations would help India grow. She awarded the President of India Gold Medal and Director’s Gold Medals to Sushant Sachan and Pratik Nayak and also distributed degrees to the successful students.
She also expressed her pleasure as the convocation was held in its own campus for the first time since its inception. The campus is only partially functional since July while classes are currently being held at six different locations, besides hostel facilities for the students available on the 950-acre permanent campus.
This year, 215 students received degrees. They include 109 B Tech, 44 M Tech, 12 PhD and 50 M Sc. IIT Bhubaneswar Director RV Rajakumar and Chairman Board of Governors (IIT Bhubaneswar) RR Roongta among others were present.