Engineering graduates should turn India into AI creator rather than mere consumer market, says Delhi CM

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged young engineering graduates to transform India into a leading creator of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies instead of merely being a large consumer market for digital innovations. Speaking at the 41st annual convocation of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Tamil Nadu, Ms. Gupta emphasized the importance of leveraging academic training to tackle societal challenges through AI-driven solutions. During her keynote speech, Ms. Gupta highlighted the government's commitment to advancing AI capabilities under the “India AI Mission.” This initiative includes substantial investments in semiconductor manufacturing, computing infrastructure, defense systems, space exploration, drone technology, robotics, and biotechnology. She encouraged engineering graduates to apply their classroom knowledge toward addressing critical issues such as environmental degradation, urban mobility, and waste management. As an example, she cited the Delhi government’s collaboration with IIT Delhi to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance municipal services. Ms. Gupta stressed that moving from a passive consumer role to an active producer role in AI technology represents a pivotal opportunity for India’s future. She argued that engineering graduates must go beyond refining technical skills and cultivate emotional intelligence and ethical responsibility. By doing so, they can contribute meaningfully to India’s broader economic goals of innovation, self-reliance, and global competitiveness. “Only through the ingenuity of young engineers can we realize the vision of making, investing, designing, and branding products within our nation,” she added. In his presidential address, G. Viswanathan, chancellor of VIT, presented data showing that India’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education currently hovers around 30%, significantly lower than countries like South Korea (90%), Japan (60%), China (60%), Thailand (45%), and Malaysia (40%). He explained how the New Educational Policy 2020 aims to boost GER to 50% over the next few years, reflecting a strategic push to expand access to quality education and foster a more skilled workforce. The convocation ceremony, held over two days, recognized 11,276 undergraduate and postgraduate students, 785 research graduates, 248 Ph.D. rank holders, and 84 gold medalists. The event also featured the inauguration of the Centre for Advanced Research in Bacteriophage and Infectious Diseases (CARBID), a joint venture between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and VIT. The center focuses on researching bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, as potential tools for combating infectious diseases. Notable attendees included Babu Unnikrishnan, vice president of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and several senior officials from VIT, including Sankar Viswanathan, Sekar Viswanathan, G.V. Selvam, Sandhya Pentareddy, and deans, professors, parents, and students. Their presence underscored the collaborative spirit among academia, industry, and governance in shaping India’s technological landscape. As the convocation concluded, the focus remained on empowering the next generation of engineers to lead India’s transformation into a global AI powerhouse. With continued investment in education, research, and industry partnerships, the path toward achieving this ambitious goal appears increasingly viable.