Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday chaired the 56th meeting of the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at IIT Delhi, where key reforms were discussed to align the premier institutes with the vision of “Atmanirbharta se Samridha Bharat.”
Dharmendra Pradhan urged IITs to act as catalysts for transformational change rather than incremental progress, stressing the need for innovation-driven solutions to national challenges. He highlighted the importance of regional language integration, inclusive education, and producing job creators through translational research and entrepreneurship.
The Minister noted that IITs have already nurtured 6,000+ start-ups, 56 unicorns, and nearly 5,000 patents, underscoring their role in driving India’s innovation ecosystem. He expressed confidence that IITs would spearhead the country’s aspirations of achieving Samridhh and Viksit Bharat by 2047 while strengthening India’s position as a global leader in science and technology.
Backed by initiatives such as the PM Research Fellowship, Centres of Excellence in AI, and research parks, IITs were described as emerging engines of economic growth and civilisational resurgence.
Minister of State for Education and DoNER, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, reiterated that IITs are not just centres of academic excellence but drivers of Innovation, Inclusion, and Transformation, shaping global leaders and innovators.
The Council, which included top policymakers, industry leaders, and academicians, deliberated on:
- Reforms in PhD education
- Boosting global rankings
- Industry-academia collaboration
- Curriculum upgrades for emerging technologies like AI
- Mental well-being of students and faculty
It was decided to form a task force to draft an action plan for higher and school education. The Council also resolved to elevate the IIT R&D Fair into a global platform and introduce a policy within a month to fast-track translational research and product development for self-reliance.
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The meeting further emphasised leveraging alumni networks, attracting global talent, and strengthening regional and Indian language education.
