Pradhan at IIT Delhi: “This is the time to shape history” — Minister Calls on Students to Power Atmanirbhar Bharat

The interaction ended with Pradhan urging students to think beyond placements and immediate careers.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to see themselves as the architects of India’s self-reliance journey, saying the country stands at a turning point in history.

Addressing undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral researchers during his visit to the institute, Pradhan struck an emotional note. “समय को भी मोड़ देने का, यही समय है, सही समय है” — “This is the time to turn the tide; the right time is now,” he said urging students to direct their innovations towards national priorities.

'Students as the Core of Atmanirbhar Bharat'

The minister said the government viewed the youth as the backbone of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and emphasised that institutions like IIT Delhi must become “launchpads of innovation, entrepreneurship and societal transformation.”

“This is a moment when Indian science and technology has to lead the world,” Pradhan said, pointing to advances in digital payments, vaccines and space exploration. “The next wave — in semiconductors, AI, and clean energy — must be led from your labs.”

Government Promises Backing

Pradhan was accompanied by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee. Both underlined the government’s push to strengthen the research ecosystem across campuses. Joshi said the ministry was committed to cutting red tape and investing in facilities so that students could innovate “without fear or hesitation.”

The minister assured students that the government would continue to support IITs with resources and reforms, but urged them to match that support with perseverance. “Atmanirbharta is not just a policy,” he said. “It is a mindset. The country’s future will be written by your courage to take risks and your ability to persist.”

A Generational Call to Action

The interaction ended with Pradhan urging students to think beyond placements and immediate careers. “By 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, it is your generation that will lead a Samridhh Bharat,” he said, calling the present moment an “unrepeatable opportunity” to shape the nation’s trajectory.