T P Ganesan auditorium on SRMIST premises at Kattankulathur was filled with thunderous applause as the chief guest rose to address the graduands. Youth should explore India which is becoming a land of great opportunities.

They must make use of the opportunities and then arrive at solutions for the world, said Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while addressing the gathering during the 19th convocation at SRMIST.

He further said SRMIST is all set to get a 5G Laboratory and students could devise solutions for various problems affecting the world through their innovative ideas.

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Speaking about 5G services that were launched in India in October of the previous year, he said there was tremendous growth in the use of 5G services.

India had overtaken even those countries where 5G technology was introduced much earlier, he said during the 19th graduation day at SRMIST.

In the USA, there were only 1 lakh 5G radiating ports, while the number was 2.75 lakh in India, making the country, the 2nd largest 5G ecosystem in the world, said the Union Minister at SRMIST.

A great change

India has been witnessing a great change in recent times which is a welcome thing, said Ashwini Vaishnaw at the convocation day at SRMIST.

‘In the telecom sector till about a decade ago, India was dependent on importing electronic products, and manufacture of the same in the country was negligible.’

Ten years ago, nearly all cell phones used by Indians were imported, he said during the graduation day at SRMIST. That has changed now, said Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

He said about 98 % of all phones used by people in the country were now made in India and added that close to Chennai, there was a factory manufacturing iPhones, and apart from it, components made in the factory were also used in cell phones made in other countries.

Hinting at how to go ahead in life, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that beyond their life at the university, they needed to be focused, possess clarity in thought, and be persistent to succeed and to be distinguished and different from the rest.

He said SRMIST with over 1 lakh students at different campuses, was a multi-disciplinary institution and was among India’s largest higher education institutions.

The founder and chancellor said he had dedicated most of his life towards education. He began his political career with the objective to serve the young, poor and needy people of India.

Lauding Mr Vaishnaw, whom he said, was a qualified engineer and who had a distinguished career as an IAS officer, Dr Paarivendhar also said that the Prime Minister chose his Cabinet colleagues very carefully and it was an important reason for the country to perform well in all sectors, including making India the fifth largest economy in the world.

Other dignitaries at SRMIST 19th convocation

Prof. C.Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor of SRMIST presented the annual report. Dr Ravi Pachamoothoo Pro-Chancellor (Administration), Dr P Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor (Academics), Dr S Ponnusamy, Registrar and Lt. Col. Dr A Ravikumar, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Medical) were among those present.

BITS Pilani signed an agreement with the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune, on December 4. The areas of knowledge-sharing activities undertaken include workshops, seminars, and conferences to be conducted on national security fields, according to a statement from BITS Pilani.

The BITS Pilani statement also says that joint research work will be an area of focus for this collaboration. The Center for Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS) established at the BITS Pilani will facilitate the partnership.

Both institutes will also undertake research projects including short-term consultancy assignments to deal with industry issues and long-term initiatives to explore emerging and future areas. The collaborations will include the usage of lab infrastructures, faculty members, and research scholars.

BITS Pilani vice chancellor Ramgopal Rao was critical of the tie-up and stated: “Our partnership with DIAT Pune reflects a shared vision that through research and innovation, we can synergistically elevate the defence capability of India and give a technological push to India. Through CRENS we intend to address the veritable challenges and bring about self-reliance in the strategic sectors.

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BHVS Narayana Murthy, vice chancellor of DIAT Pune, stated: “DIAT Pune focuses on developing India’s technological defence capabilities by focused research, innovation, and skill development. BITS Pilani has always led the way for innovation, and our tie-up with the esteemed university will enable us to share resources and expertise to address many of the problems that are now challenging National Security and facilitate an ecosystem of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”

Conclusion

The partnership between BITS Pilani and DIAT Pune is a significant step forward in strengthening India’s national security and technological landscape. Through combining research, innovation, and skill development expertise, the two institutions aim to address critical challenges and enhance India’s defence capabilities. Initiatives such as joint research, certificate courses, and resource sharing will foster innovation and self-reliance in this collaboration. This partnership not only shows the importance of academia-industry synergy but also creates a benchmark for strategic collaborations in the building of a technologically robust and secure future for India.