Text of PM's address at the 57th Convocation Ceremony of IIT Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the 57th Convocation of IIT Delhi on July 12, 2024, represents a significant policy articulation of India's technology-driven development vision. The event marked his first in-person convocation appearance post-COVID, symbolizing India's return to normalcy and accelerated growth trajectory. The speech strategically aligned individual graduate aspirations with national imperatives, particularly the 'Viksit Bharat@2047' vision — a roadmap to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of independence. Historically, IITs have been engines of human capital formation since the first IIT Kharagpur was established in 1951 under the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 (amended in 2011 and 2016). The PM's emphasis on research funding — ₹1 lakh crore through the National Research Foundation (NRF), established via the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 — addresses a critical gap: India's R&D expenditure at ~0.65% of GDP (2022-23) lags behind global peers (USA 3.4%, China 2.4%, South Korea 4.8%). The NRF, operationalized under the Principal Scientific Adviser, aims to democratize research funding across universities, moving beyond concentrated elite institutions. Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Education (implementing NRF and One Nation One Subscription), Department of Science & Technology, Department of Space (IN-SPACe for private space participation), Ministry of Electronics & IT (Semiconductor Mission, ₹76,000 crore PLI scheme), and startup ecosystem enablers (DPIIT, Startup India). The PM cited concrete achievements: private rocket launches by Skyroot Aerospace (Vikram-S, 2022) and Agnikul Cosmos (Agnibaan SOrTeD, 2024); Tata-PSMC semiconductor fab in Dholera (groundbreaking March 2024); drone applications in agriculture (Kisan Drones) and defence; and 111+ unicorns as of 2024. Constitutionally, the speech resonates with Article 51A(h) (Fundamental Duty to develop scientific temper), Directive Principles Article 38 (social order for welfare), Article 39(b)-(c) (resource distribution for common good), and Entry 65 of Union List (higher education/research coordination). The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, providing access to 13,000+ journals from 30 publishers to all HEIs, operationalizes equitable knowledge access — a step toward Article 21A (Right to Education) extension into research. Broader themes include strategic autonomy in critical technologies (semiconductors, quantum, AI), reducing import dependence (India imports ~$20B+ semiconductors annually), and leveraging demographic dividend (median age 28.4 years). The PM's focus on "problems the world stopped asking" aligns with mission-mode innovation (e.g., National Quantum Mission, ₹6,003 crore; National Green Hydrogen Mission, ₹19,744 crore). Future implications: NRF's success depends on merit-based, transparent grant mechanisms avoiding bureaucratic capture. ONOS must expand to include preprints, data repositories, and regional language research. Private sector R&D contribution (currently ~37% of total) must rise to 60%+ via tax incentives and academia-industry linkages. The 'First in my bloodline' narrative signals a cultural shift from job-seeking to job-creating — essential for absorbing 12M annual workforce entrants. For aspirants, this convergence of policy, technology, and constitutional vision exemplifies the 'governance-development' nexus central to UPSC GS Paper II/III and Essay.