Days after a massive youth protest forced the resignation of the Union Education Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday (August 8, 2026) that “the youth should question things that are accepted without a thought, but don’t just stop at questioning; have the courage to also find their solutions.”
He was addressing new graduates at IIT-Delhi’s 57th convocation ceremony. Their degrees, he said, represent much more than academic success, serving also as a mandate to contribute to the nation.
Since mid-July, Mr. Modi has increased his outreach to youth, posting reels directly addressing them as ‘friends’ even as student protests continue in various parts of the country, seeking education reforms, particularly regarding paper leaks in competition examinations.
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Ahead of the convocation, police and paramilitary forces deployed multi-layered security, including barricades and temporary metal detectors, as well as surveillance measures. There was a ban on carrying mobile phones, bags, umbrellas, and water bottles inside the main building to prevent any possibility of disruption. The surrounding airspace was heavily monitored, restricting the use of remote-operated or unmanned aerial objects.
Problem-solving capabilities
Addressing the rapidly shifting geopolitical and strategic global landscape, the Prime Minister identified the relentless speed of technological advancement as the primary catalyst for these massive global transformations. He framed this era of rapid change as a dual landscape of unprecedented challenges and vast new opportunities. “The one who continuously learns is the one who will win,” Mr. Modi said.
During the ceremony, degrees were conferred on over 3,000 graduating students, including 587 Ph.D. scholars. Mr. Modi presented honours to students, including the President’s Gold Medal, Director’s Gold Medal, Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, and Perfect Ten Gold Medals to meritorious students. He also remotely inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility established at IIT-Delhi’s Sonipat campus.
The Prime Minister noted that an IIT qualification goes far beyond a high CGPA or a lucrative placement offer, acting instead as a definitive global certification of advanced problem-solving capabilities. “Your degree tells the entire world that you know exactly how to solve highly difficult problems,” he noted.
Positive pitch
He then painted a glowing picture of some of the fields in which the graduates may seek employment or research opportunities. Highlighting the growth of the space sector following strategic government reforms, Mr. Modi lauded young engineers who are now actively designing and launching their own rockets, a feat previously restricted to a handful of nations. “Today, that same space sector has become a sky of new opportunities for thousands of our youths,” he said.
Pointing to the rapid domestic advancement in semiconductor manufacturing, Mr. Modi noted that initial production units are already operational and driving immense national confidence. “Somewhere, a youth is proudly saying with full self-confidence: ‘First in my bloodline to make a chip in India’,” he said.
Showcasing the transformative impact of the drone sector, the Prime Minister said that young innovators are revolutionising fields ranging from agriculture and medical delivery to national defence. He added that unicorns, digital payments, and the FinTech boom, have provided unprecedented entrepreneurial platforms for millions. “All these revolutions have given millions of youths of the country an incredible opportunity to do something completely new for the first time,” he said.
Research targets
Mr. Modi highlighted critical emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, data centres, critical minerals, deep sea exploration, quantum computing, and energy security. “Many such cutting-edge fields are eagerly waiting for your immense talent, your bold innovation, and your strong leadership,” he said.
Warning the graduates against the toxic distractions of the social media era, the Prime Minister urged them to completely avoid comparing their salaries, placements, or startup milestones with their peers. He counselled them to prioritise their mental and physical well-being while focusing strictly on self-improvement. ‘’Remember, life is absolutely not a leader-board; your real race is not with anyone else, it is with yourself,” he affirmed.
Emphasising a massive national pivot toward advanced research, Mr. Modi said that the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship and the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, are backed by a funding target of up to ₹1 lakh crore. “Today, the country desperately needs new research, and our administrative focus is equally and firmly on research,” he stated.
Published – August 08, 2026 01:26 pm IST
