Dr. G. Viswanathan, Chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), underscored the importance of education as a driver for India’s transformation into a developed nation by 2047 during VIT’s 40th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday. Supreme Court Justice R. Mahadevan, the chief guest, awarded degrees to 8,310 undergraduates, 2,802 postgraduates, and 451 doctoral recipients. Sixty-eight top performers received gold medals, while 203 students were recognized for their rankings.
Tamil Nadu Police Academy Director DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore received a Ph.D. in Disaster Management, and Times of India CEO Sivakumar Sundaram attended as guest of honor. The convocation also marked the inauguration of hostels named after Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Jagadish Chandra Bose.
Dr. Viswanathan highlighted India’s low education spending, urging an increase to 6% of GDP from the current 3%, and emphasized the need for expanded higher education infrastructure to meet the National Education Policy’s goal of 50% Gross Enrollment Ratio. He also called on students to combat corruption and black money to strengthen economic growth.
Justice Mahadevan praised VIT’s use of technology in academics and research, stressing that ethical leadership and continuous learning remain vital for India’s economic competitiveness.
