Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on Saturday, 8 August as Chief Guest, congratulating more than 3,000 graduating students — including 587 PhD scholars — and urging them to carry forward the nation's aspirations alongside their degrees. The event marked one of IIT Delhi's largest annual degree-conferral ceremonies in recent years.

Modi's Message to Graduates

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi drew a direct parallel between the pride felt by students' families and his own. 'The way your families are feeling proud today, I am also proud of you all. You are not just taking a degree, but taking forward the dream of doing something for the country,' he said.

In a candid aside, Modi acknowledged the mix of emotions graduates carry on convocation day. 'All of you are gathered here today, but there must be something going on in your hearts. Some must be thinking of their future, some about their salaries, some must be preparing for a new start in a new city, some must be thinking of start-ups... Everyone has a different path and dreams, but one feeling must be mutual — recalling the first day in IIT Delhi and today,' he said, encouraging students to cherish the journey from orientation to convocation.

Academic Honours Conferred

The Prime Minister personally presented IIT Delhi's most prestigious academic awards to meritorious students. Recognitions included the President's Gold Medal, the Director's Gold Medal, the Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal, and the Perfect Ten Gold Medal — each recognising outstanding academic performance across disciplines.

On a lighter note, Modi remarked on the gender composition of the top performers: 'If some daughters were meritorious students, then it would have been much better. Sorry, not just some but many,' drawing applause from the audience. The comment reflects a broader national conversation around improving female representation in premier technical institutions.

Param Pragya Supercomputer Unveiled

Beyond the ceremonial address, Modi virtually inaugurated 'Param Pragya' — an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility at IIT Delhi's Sonipat campus. The facility is expected to significantly bolster the institute's capabilities in Artificial Intelligence, data science, advanced computing, and interdisciplinary research.

The launch of Param Pragya aligns with the Centre's broader push to establish India as a global hub for AI and deep-tech research, with IITs positioned as anchor institutions in that effort. This is the latest in a series of high-performance computing deployments under the National Supercomputing Mission.

Context and Significance

Modi's presence at IIT Delhi's convocation underscores the government's sustained emphasis on higher technical education as a pillar of India's economic ambitions. With 587 PhD scholars among the graduating cohort, the ceremony also highlighted the institution's growing research output. Modi's parting words reinforced a recurring theme of his addresses to young graduates: 'Whenever life gives you a reason to look back, then this campus life, your friends, teachers and support staff — the ones who have become your families and home — you will remember all this and be thankful for everyone.'

As India accelerates its push in semiconductors, AI, and deep tech, the graduating class of IIT Delhi steps into a labour market with both unprecedented opportunity and heightened global competition.