Take lead in innovations, says Dharmendra Pradhan at IIT Kharagpur

More than 3,000 students were awarded degrees at the 67th convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)IIT Kharagpur. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest on the occasion.  

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addresses the gathering at the 67th convocation of IIT Kharagpur. Image via Twitter

The graduating batch included 1,573 undergraduate, 1,253 postgraduate, 333 research scholars and more. A Ramlu, founder head of the department of mining engineering at IIT Kharagpur, received the lifetime achievement award, whereas five distinguished persons were given the life fellow awards.  

While addressing the students, Pradhan said the institute was of immense help to start-up and research being the “epicentre of innovation” and asked it to take the lead in innovations for the country’s MSME sector.  

The institute has made 75 innovations so far to help the industry and as part of its interdisciplinary role the BC Roy MBBS College will start with 100 students on the campus by this month. Sixteen faculty members have joined the super speciality hospital named after Shyamaprasad Mukherjee which is expected to start soon, Pradhan said. He congratulated all the students and alumni who received medals and awards.  

Space scientists K Kasturirangan, Tessy Thomas and HC Verma received the Doctorate of Science (Honoris Causa) for contributions to their respective fields at the convocation. 

IIT Kharagpur students to be back on campus from January 2022 

Speaking on the occasion, IIT Kharagpur director V K Tewari said, “Despite the Omicron scare, students will be brought back on campus from January 2022.” The institute had invited all graduating students to physically attend the convocation. Last year, the function was held in the online mode. 

Super-speciality hospital named after SP Mookerjee 

The institute has also started a super-speciality hospital named after Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who was the founding president of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS). The hospital will focus on robust Biomedical, Clinical and Translational Research, development of remote diagnostics, telemedicine, teleradiology along with research in drug design and delivery.

Read more: 

• 404 students awarded degrees at IIT Jodhpur 
• IIT Roorkee adjudged most innovative research institution 
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