Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar today emphasized on the transformation potential of new emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and said that the world is on the cusp of technological revolution. He stressed that AI will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and interact and it is an opportunity as well as a challenge. Shri Dhankhar remarked emergence of AI as one of the most significant production shifts since industrial revolution.

While Interacting with the students at IIT, Bombay, Vice-President called upon them to engage in research and innovation and urged them to use technology for societal cause that can enable ease of living for the people of the country and humanity at large.

He also urged the premiere institutions like IIT to be in synergy with industry and government so that technology can be democratized and universalized.

Recognizing the importance of women empowerment and gender equality, Vice-President, lauded the government initiatives like Swatch Bharat Mission, Ujjwala Yojana and Har Ghar Jal Yojana that has provided dignity to thousands of women, gave them freedom from drudgery and made their life lot easier. He also remarked the recent passing of women reservation bill in parliament as epochal development which will have far reaching societal changes.

Highlighting the changing nature of warfare and penetration of technology in strategic domains, Vice-President stated that “the best defence is that you are capable of extreme offence”.

Calling knowledge as the supreme power that alone has the capability to define the place of any individual, organization and nation in the world, Vice-President exhorted the students to engage in cutting edge research in areas like Quantum Computing, artificial intelligence, 6G, Cryptography, Cyber security and  Green Hydrogen.

Reflecting on the demographic dividend and role of youth, Vice-President calls them as the greatest stakeholder in governance. He expressed confidence in the capacity of youth to craft the destiny of Bharat and called them as the foremost engines of growth.

Shri Dhankhar urged them to be proud citizens of Bharat, be proud of our nation’s historical accomplishments and uphold our age old ethos and democratic values.

Expressing concern over movement of our nation’s raw material to other countries without value addition, Vice-President remarked that it is high time that we all must develop a deep sense of economic nationalism. As raw material leaving our shores without value addition deprives our youth of employment and opportunity of entrepreneurship.

Vice-President termed corruption as the greatest enemy of democracy as it impedes growth of ordinary man and makes people hopeless.

Addressing the students, Shri Dhankhar underlined the need to create synergy among premiere institutes like IIT, industry and the government so that technological development can act as a catalyzing agent and ensure emergence of Bharat as a global leader.

In his address Vice-President also acknowledged the rich alumna of IIT Bombay and their immense contribution made in varied disciplines and proposed the idea to create a body comprising alumni associations of all IITs so that their experience, expertise and exposure can be utilized in policy making and execution.

Shri Ramesh Bais, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, Prof. S. Sudarshan, Deputy Director (AIA), IIT Bombay, Prof. K.V.K. Rao, Deputy Director (FEA), IIT Bombay, students, faculty members and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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MS/JK/RC