'India’s economy rising due to young population'

DEHRADUN: Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday urged students to continuously upgrade their knowledge and skills, saying that lifelong learning is essential in a rapidly changing world. Addressing the 13th convocation ceremony of Graphic Era Deemed University in Dehradun, Joshi said the 21st century would belong to India and that the country’s youth would play a decisive role in building a developed nation.

At the convocation, degrees were awarded to 3,691 students, including 34 PhD scholars, while 57 students received gold medals.

Union minister Joshi said, “India has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing economy due to the talent, innovation and hard work of its young population.” Referring to achievements such as Chandrayaan and the Digital India initiative, the minister said the future would be driven by research, innovation and the startup ecosystem. He also advised students to remain humble, face challenges courageously and remember the sacrifices of their parents and teachers.

Uttarakhand higher education minister Dhan Singh Rawat, who was also present at the event, said education was not merely a means of earning a degree but also a tool for personality development and nation-building. He credited the university with bringing national recognition to Uttarakhand through quality education and described the journey of its founder, Kamal Ghanshala, as inspiring for students.

Speaking on the ocassion, Ghanshala urged students to become job creators instead of job seekers and called for greater focus on manufacturing, innovation and high-quality research.