Courage to find new solutions to challenges, the challenges will become opportunities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the 57th Convocation Ceremony of IIT Delhi. Highlighting the profound emotional resonance of the ceremony, the Prime Minister reflected on the vibrant, dream-filled atmosphere of the campus. He recalled his previous virtual attendance during the COVID pandemic, expressing his deep personal satisfaction at being physically present among the graduating class. “Sharing this incredible experience with you on this campus today is very special for me too,” observed Shri Modi.

Congratulating the students and their families on their monumental academic achievements, the Prime Minister emphasized that their degrees represent much more than academic success, serving as a mandate to contribute to the nation. He extended special praise to the medal recipients and celebrated the launch of new AI initiatives at the institute. “You are stepping out from here with a dream of doing a lot for the country,” affirmed Shri Modi.

Encouraging the students to deeply cherish their current moments, the Prime Minister humorously referenced beloved campus memories, including inter-hostel rivalries across Kumaon, Ara, Kara, Vindhy, Nilgiri, Kailash, and Himadri, alongside local culinary favorites like Jia Sarai’s Poha and Satpura mess Parathas. “In the coming times when you will have massive responsibilities, the memories of this place will definitely energize you,” remarked Shri Modi.

Expressing deep gratitude toward the institutional support system, the Prime Minister urged the graduating class to recognize their peers, professors, mentors, and support staff as lifelong assets who effectively became their surrogate families. “You will profoundly remember and be thankful for all these individuals in every future success of yours,” asserted Shri Modi.

Redefining the true value of an IIT degree, the Prime Minister emphasized that the qualification goes far beyond a high CGPA or a lucrative placement offer, acting instead as a definitive global certification of advanced problem-solving capabilities. “Your degree tells the entire world that you know exactly how to solve highly difficult problems,” noted Shri Modi.

Drawing a parallel between academic perseverance and lifelong resilience, the Prime Minister advised the youth to tackle massive life challenges by breaking them down into manageable components, much like solving complex laboratory simulations. “If difficulties inevitably come in life, entirely new opportunities will also emerge; you just have to remain completely alert,” observed Shri Modi.

Contrasting structured academic environments with unpredictable real-world scenarios, the Prime Minister warned the graduates that unlike their university exams, life’s most critical challenges operate entirely ‘Out of Syllabus’. He stressed that true success lies not merely in answering pre-defined questions, but in identifying and solving the problems that society has complacently accepted. “The fundamental reason for the success of many alumni was that they boldly identified those crucial questions which the world had stopped considering as questions,” asserted Shri Modi.

Highlighting the explosive growth of the Space Sector following strategic government reforms, the Prime Minister celebrated the monumental achievements of young engineers who are now actively designing and launching their own rockets, a feat previously restricted to a handful of nations. “Today, that same Space Sector has beautifully become a sky of new opportunities for thousands of our youths,” observed Shri Modi.

Mapping out the frontiers of future technological dominance, the Prime Minister highlighted critical emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Centers, Critical Minerals, Deep Sea Exploration, Quantum Computing, and Energy Security. “Many such cutting-edge fields are eagerly waiting for your immense talent, your bold innovation, and your strong leadership,” noted Shri Modi..

Detailing initiatives to democratize academic resources, the Prime Minister highlighted the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ program, which ensures that prestigious global research journals are accessible even in the smallest cities without extra costs.

Warning the graduates against the toxic distractions of the social media era, the Prime Minister urged them to completely avoid comparing their salaries, placements, or startup milestones with their peers. (UPDATED ON 8TH AUGUST 2026