IIT Roorkee concludes Think India National Convention 2024; 300 from IITs, IIMs, NITs, NLUs take part

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) concluded its three-day Think India National Convention 2024 themed “Bharat 4.0”. The event fostered innovative discussions on India’s roadmap to becoming a self-reliant and resilient nation by 2047, blending technological advancements, sustainable practices, and indigenous solutions, the institute said.

The programme was attended by over 300 participants from across institutes such as Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and National Law Universities (NLUs).

The Union minister of road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated the event organised by the management institute and gave a keynote address through a virtual channel. The theme of the event was ‘Paving the Way for Bharat 4.0.”

"The conversion of knowledge and waste into wealth is the future of India,” Gadkari said. He also outlined a roadmap to align with PM Modi's vision of a 10 trillion US dollar economy by 2030, underscoring the importance of reducing imports, boosting exports, and adopting sustainable practices.

The transport minister also stressed the critical role of infrastructure, encompassing water, power, transport, and communication, in economic growth and employment generation.

India’s potential to lead globally

Furthermore, Gadkari expressed his thoughts about India’s potential to lead on the global stage, leveraging its young and talented engineering manpower. The minister also advocated the transition to biofuels, alternative energy sources, and electric vehicles (EVs) to mitigate pollution and reduce fossil fuel imports.

The minister further talked about India’s rising prominence in the automobile sector, now ranked 3rd globally, and projected a complete shift to EV-based public transport within five years.

Moreover, the participants in the convention talked about innovative discussions on India’s roadmap to becoming a self-reliant and resilient nation by 2047, blending technological advancements, sustainable practices, and indigenous solutions.

One of the speakers, Kamal Kishore Pant, director of IIT Roorkee, said: "It is an honour for IIT Roorkee to host the Think India National Convention 2024, a platform that embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation. This event reflects our institute’s commitment to driving transformative discussions and fostering ground-breaking innovations that pave the way for a self-reliant and technologically advanced Bharat 4.0."