‘Higher education remains our top priority’: Delhi LG announces Rs 500 crore for Narela hub at IPU convocation

NEW DELHI: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University awarded degrees to 24,456 students during its 17th convocation ceremony held at the Dwarka campus on Friday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor and Chancellor of the university Vinai Kumar Saxena, while delivering the presidential address, announced a budgetary allocation of Rs 500 crore for a proposed educational hub in Narela.

Among the degrees awarded were 110 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 12 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degrees, 2,624 Master’s degrees, 20,739 Bachelor’s degrees, 483 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees and 488 Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS) and Ayurveda Vachaspati degrees. Seventy-four students were awarded gold medals.

All special medals to women

Women students received more honours at the convocation. Of the 110 PhDs awarded, 75 went to women. Among the 73 medal winners, 49 were women. All special medals were also bagged by women.

Riya Dua received the Dr BP Joshi Memorial Gold Medal, while Muskan Gupta was conferred with the Siddharth Khitoliya Award. The Ashok Sahni and Suman Sahni Awards, given for excellence in technology and medicine, were awarded to Pooja Sukheja and Himani Tomar, respectively.

Addressing the graduating students, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor emphasised that they now bear the responsibility of society and the nation. "You must remain sensitive to the world around you. Education that does not bring happiness to someone's life is of no real value. The teaching of human values cannot be confined to books," he said.

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Book on IPU journey launched

During the event, Vice Chancellor Mahesh Verma presented the university report and announced plans to set up an Indian Knowledge Center. He also shared that the university has signed nearly 100 agreements, including 40 international collaborations. A book titled Impressions: The IPU Journey of Excellence was also launched on the occasion.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said improving the education system in the city is a top priority. She urged students to recognise their responsibilities towards society and added that collective participation is necessary for a developed Delhi and a developed India.

Delhi’s Education Minister, Ashish Sood, remarked that “A degree is a testimony to a student’s struggle, but their real test begins now. He encouraged students to leverage sustainability and AI to transform the nation and emphasized that the process of learning should never stop.”