President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the importance of women's participation in research and development (R&D) for India's growth. She noted the rising enrollment of girls in STEM fields and the encouraging trend of female students winning 12 out of 20 gold medals at the 18th Convocation of Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur. She praised the fact that given equal opportunities, women can achieve great excellence, despite only about 29 per cent of the total graduating students being girls.
The President praised NITs for promoting quality technical education and research in India and providing skilled human resources. She noted 125 start-ups registered in MNIT's Incubation Centre, creating new employment opportunities. The system allows local talent to flourish while strengthening the country's 'spirit of unity in diversity'. President Murmu further highlighted the importance of women in India's future, highlighting their potential to boost economic growth, drive global innovation, and contribute to inclusive social progress. She also highlighted government initiatives like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' and scholarships for girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM). Murmu also emphasized the role of female role models and called for more institutional support for women in R&D, including mentorship programs and work-life balance policies.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu congratulated the graduating students on their new phase and highlighted the importance of technical institutions in leveraging opportunities and making India a leading technology nation, highlighting the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering at MNIT.
