Vice-President lays foundation stone for ₹110 crore infrastructure projects at Gauhati University

The Vice-President's visit to Gauhati University on September 7, 2026, marks a significant moment in India's educational and cultural landscape, weaving together infrastructure development, linguistic heritage preservation, and the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The foundation stone for ₹110 crore infrastructure projects — including a multidisciplinary academic building, hostels for boys and international students, and upgrades to the auditorium and library — reflects the government's sustained push to modernise higher education institutions, particularly in the Northeast. This aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on multidisciplinary education, research integration, and internationalisation of campuses. Gauhati University, established on January 26, 1948, holds historic distinction as the first university in Northeast India, born out of a sustained public movement led by Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi, Assam's first Chief Minister. Its journey from a regional aspiration to a NAAC A+-accredited institution ranked 9th among State Public Universities in NIRF 2025 exemplifies the transformative potential of public demand for education. The Vice-President's emphasis on linguistic exchange — specifically welcoming the translation of Assamese and Tamil literary works — resonates deeply with Article 29(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right of any section of citizens to conserve their distinct language, script, or culture. It also echoes the spirit of the Eighth Schedule, which recognises 22 official languages, and the NEP 2020's push for mother-tongue-based education and promotion of Indian languages. The release of 'Bhupen Hazarika: Hundred Years of a Wandering Songs' and the 5th edition of 'Chandrakanta Abhidhan' underscores the role of universities as custodians of intangible cultural heritage. The Vice-President's reference to the 42.2% rise in women's enrolment in higher education — from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.24 crore in 2023-24 — is a powerful indicator of progress toward gender parity, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and reflecting the impact of schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, scholarships for girls, and the expansion of women's hostels and STEM initiatives. His call for research on the Brahmaputra Basin, endangered languages, and Indian Knowledge Systems connects to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023, which aims to seed and grow research culture in universities. The 'No to Drugs' pledge led by the Vice-President ties into the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and the broader public health agenda under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Assam's development trajectory under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma — with 1.64 lakh+ merit-based government appointments since 2021 and the launch of the first MBA batch at IIM Guwahati — illustrates the convergence of education, employment, and governance reform. This event is not merely ceremonial; it symbolises the integration of infrastructure, culture, research, and youth empowerment in building a developed India by 2047.