President Kovind says no to honorary doctorate from Nauni varsity
Solan, May 21: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday refused to accept an honorary doctorate that was to be conferred on him by the horticulture and forestry university at its annual convocation in Nauni near here.
The Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry planned to confer a Doctorate of Science (D.Sc) degree on President Kovind, who gave away degrees and gold medals to meritorious students at the ninth convocation of the varsity.
"The President refused to receive the honorary degree," a university official told IANS.
"I respect your sentiments but I can't accept it," the official quoting the President as saying.
Himachal Governor and University Chancellor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur were present on the occasion.
The President awarded eight gold medals at the event. Speaking in Hindi on the occasion, he said that the goal of education should not be limited to only getting a job.
Students can start their own enterprises by using their skills and learning, he added.
The President also urged the students to take advantage of various schemes and initiatives of the union and state governments to set up their businesses in the agricultural sector.
"There is immense potential in the field of fruit and vegetable processing. With their knowledge and enterprise, graduates from the university could help consumers in the country and abroad get better food products and help farmers get better value for their produce."
He said that increasing the income of farmers and development of rural India is the country's top priority.
Kovind said that research in horticulture and forestry held a special significance for farmers in mountainous states such as Himachal Pradesh.
Over the past three decades, the university has contributed significantly to the advancement of horticulture and forestry in the state.
The President congratulated the students for choosing to pursue education in the agricultural sector.
He said that he considered each student and teacher of this university to be a technically equipped friend and partner of the farmers of Himachal Pradesh, as well as those in other parts of the country.
Kovind is currently in the hill state on a five-day holiday.
The Governor, in his address, said that in order to promote zero-budget natural farming in the state, the university is implementing its farming model on its campus.
He said zero-budget natural farming would not only help in environmental conservation but also produce healthy food.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
