India fast becoming a global education powerhouse: PM Modi at DU centenary

In an empowering address at the Valedictory Ceremony of the Centenary celebrations of Delhi University (DU), Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s academic surge, highlighting the nation’s transformation into an academic powerhouse. As the country’s educational landscape proliferates with institutions like IITs, IIMs, NITs, and AIIMS, he emphasised, “These institutions are the building blocks of New India.”
Celebrating DU’s 100-year existence, coinciding with India’s 75 years of independence, Modi underlined the university’s significant role in shaping national movements and its dedication to academia. Terming DU not merely an institution but a “movement,” he recognized the university’s expansion from three to over 90 colleges, with an improved gender ratio showcasing more women pursuing higher education than men.
Notably, Modi highlighted India’s monumental leap from being a fragile economy to one of the world’s top five economies. This remarkable transformation is a testament to the nation’s resilience, focus on education, and determination to create an environment conducive for youth and startups. The Prime Minister indicated the country’s academic growth as demonstrated by the rise from 12 to 45 Indian universities featuring in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings since 2014.
Modi’s keynote also acknowledged the recent iCET deal between India and the US as a pivotal initiative set to open new avenues for India’s youth. This agreement underpins a broad spectrum of opportunities ranging from land to space, semiconductor to AI, empowering the younger generation with state-of-the-art technological advancements.
Also present at the centenary celebration was Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who applauded DU for fully implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) within three years. He emphasised the responsibility attached to DU’s accomplishment and the importance of living in India’s moment under Modi’s leadership.
Commemorating DU’s milestone, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Delhi University Computer Centre, the Faculty of Technology building, and the academic block on the university’s North Campus.
Emphasising India’s international growth in academia and technology, Modi concluded his address by focusing on the new National Education Policy’s flexibility, the National Institutional Ranking Framework’s role in enhancing education quality, and how India’s growing profile impacts students worldwide. He highlighted the increasing demand for Indian youth equipped to convey India’s rich cultural, scientific, and historical heritage to the world, reflecting the nation’s remarkable transition to a global academic hub.