Graduates to be architects of Viksit Bharat, their degrees commitment to nation, says VP
New Delhi (PTI): Describing graduates as architects of the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat', Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday said universities must drive research and innovation that are not just rooted in Indian realities but are also globally competitive.
Addressing the 102nd convocation of Delhi University (DU) here, the vice president noted the growing enrolment of women in higher education and said that more than 70 per cent of the gold medallists this year were women.
More than 1.2 lakh students were conferred with degrees at the convocation ceremony, where Radhakrishnan was the chief guest. The ceremony was presided over by DU Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Yogesh Singh.
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Radhakrishnan said DU started with three colleges, two faculties and eight departments.
"Today, the university has grown to 16 faculties, 86 departments, 90 colleges, 20 halls and hostels, over 30 centres and institutes, 34 libraries and more than 6 lakh students," he said.
He credited the collective efforts of teachers, administrators and students for this achievement.
On the cut-throat competition for admissions to the university, the vice president said V-C Singh informed him that seats are filled without any delay and cut-offs touch 98 per cent.
Though DU is already among India's distinguished institutions, it should aim for higher global rankings, Radhakrishnan said.
"In the next two years, we should move into the top 300, then 200, then 100 and ultimately become the number one university in the world," he said, adding that students worldwide should aspire to come to Delhi.
He said the convocation is both an ending and a beginning.
In a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, climate challenges and pressures on democracies, he said, "your degree is not just a certificate but a commitment to humanity and to the nation".
He urged students to treat learning as a lifelong process, stay away from narcotic drugs and ensure their achievements bring pride to their families, the university and the nation.
He said graduates would be the architects of the vision for a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
Universities must drive research, entrepreneurship and innovation that are not just rooted in Indian realities but are also globally competitive, he added.
Radhakrishnan noted that more than 70 per cent of the gold medallists this year were women and that women graduates outnumbered men. This, he said, is a sign of the country's educational progress.
According to DU, degrees were awarded to 1,20,408 students from undergraduate, postgraduate and FYUP programmes who completed their courses in 2025. Around 750 PhD scholars also received their doctorates.
A total of 132 gold and silver medals and awards were presented at the ceremony, the university said.
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Annamalai left out of BJP’s candidate list for Tamil Nadu polls, party cites High Command decision
Chennai/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, triggering political discussion after the absence of former state president K Annamalai from the roster.
Despite being widely seen as the party’s most prominent face in the state and a key figure in its southern expansion strategy, Annamalai was not fielded in the list. Senior leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North, and Union Minister L. Murugan from Avinashi, have been nominated.
Responding to questions on the omission, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said the decision was taken by the party’s central leadership. He expressed confidence that all 27 candidates would emerge victorious in the polls.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined the BJP in 2020 and rapidly rose to prominence, had earlier been replaced as state chief by Nagendran. Known for his aggressive political style and grassroots outreach, he has been instrumental in amplifying the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu, a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.
In a message posted on X, Annamalai congratulated the candidates and reaffirmed his commitment to the party. He said he would campaign actively for BJP and NDA nominees, expressing confidence in the alliance securing a decisive mandate. He also criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, calling it ineffective and self-serving.
The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Seat-sharing arrangements allocate 169 constituencies to the AIADMK, 27 to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, 11 to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, five to the Tamil Maanila Congress, and one seat each to the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi and Puratchi Bharatham.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4. The primary contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, although actor-turned-politician Vijay is also positioning himself as a potential challenger, raising the possibility of a multi-cornered contest.
#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran says, "A list of 27 candidates has been released by the BJP High Command... All the 27 candidates will surely win this time..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2026
On Annamalai's name not appearing in the recently released list, he says, "This is a… https://t.co/pDd0HodSAW pic.twitter.com/29gkGK9AaP
