India Must Lead in Research and Patents to Become a Global Knowledge Hub: President Murmu to VCs

During the inaugural session, the President presented the eighth Visitor’s Awards in the categories of Innovation, Research, and Technology Development:

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated the two-day Visitor’s Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. As the Visitor of 184 Central Institutes of Higher Education, she emphasized that India’s higher education institutions must drive global recognition through pioneering research, patents, and academic excellence.

In her inaugural address, the President underscored that the development of any country is reflected in the strength of its education system. She told the heads of higher education institutions that they play a critical role in positioning India as a leading center for knowledge, innovation, and research. She highlighted the importance of fostering a robust research ecosystem and noted that the Government of India has established the National Research Fund to support groundbreaking academic initiatives. She expressed confidence that institutions would leverage this opportunity to advance impactful research and secure global patents.

The President stated that the ambition of India’s higher education community should be to achieve international recognition for its researchers, generate patents that drive transformative global impact, and attract students from developed countries to study in India.

Highlighting the contributions of Indian talent to global academic and industrial institutions, she urged efforts to retain and utilize such talent within the country. She emphasized that India’s aspiration to become a Global Knowledge Superpower would be realized only when the world actively adopts innovations developed in Indian research institutions and laboratories.

The President acknowledged that several Indian higher education institutions already hold global brand value, with graduates securing key roles in top global organizations. However, she urged all institutions to accelerate their progress, ensuring that academic leadership translates into the development and utilization of India’s vast young talent pool.

She further stressed that education should be inclusive and accessible, ensuring that economic, social, or psychological barriers do not hinder students from pursuing higher education. She called upon institutional heads and faculty to support students, alleviate their concerns, and foster a positive, inspiring academic environment.

The President highlighted India’s rich tradition of scientific achievements and called for the rediscovery of invaluable but lost knowledge streams through rigorous research. She emphasized that higher education institutions bear the responsibility of integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements.

Stating that educational institutions shape the nation’s future, she expressed confidence in the leadership of higher education institutions to nurture a new generation of innovators, researchers, and global change-makers.

Visitor’s Awards 2024-25 Recognize Excellence in Innovation, Research, and Technology Development

During the inaugural session, the President presented the eighth Visitor’s Awards in the categories of Innovation, Research, and Technology Development:

The Visitor’s Award for Innovation was awarded to Prof. Saripella Srikrishna, Banaras Hindu University, for his development of Novel Indigenous Innovation in Quantum Technology to advance the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

The Visitor’s Award for Research in Physical Sciences was conferred upon Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia, University of Hyderabad, for his pioneering work in high bioavailability drugs and pharmaceuticals with enhanced efficacy and affordability.

The Visitor’s Award for Research in Biological Sciences was jointly awarded to Prof. Rina Chakrabarti, University of Delhi, for her contributions to Sustainable Freshwater Aquaculture, and Prof. Raj Kumar, Central University of Punjab, for his research on cancer hallmarks and the development of synthetic anticancer lead molecules.

The Visitor’s Award for Technology Development was presented to Dr. Venkateswarlu Chintala, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, for his work on commercial-scale petrol and diesel production from landfill municipal mixed plastic waste.

Key Issues Under Discussion at Visitor’s Conference 2024-25

The conference will deliberate on crucial issues such as:

Flexibility in academic courses, credit sharing, and credit transfer with multiple entry and exit options.

Internationalization efforts and global academic collaborations.

Translational research and innovation, focusing on converting research into useful products and services.

Effective student selection processes aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) while respecting student choices.

Enhanced assessment and evaluation methodologies to improve academic standards.

The outcomes of these discussions will be presented to the President during the closing session of the conference.

Read More

• Delhi High Court Rejects Blanket Smartphone Ban in Schools, Issues Guidelines for Regulated Use
• CUET UG 2025: Check Fee Structure Details, Exam Schedule, and Key Changes