KANPUR (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India has emerged as the second biggest startup hub in the world, and this has been achieved majorly with the help of students from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Addressing the 54th convocation ceremony of IIT Kanpur, the Prime Minister said, “In this 75th year of independence, we have over 75 unicorns, over 50,000 start-ups. Of these, 10,000 have come only in the last 6 months. India has emerged to be the second biggest startup hub in the world, and this feat has been achieved majorly with the help of students from IITs.”
PM Modi said IIT Kanpur’s contribution in developing 5G technology has been recognised globally.
The Prime Minister said when India will celebrate its 100th year of independence, it will include the contribution of all the students who are present here today.
“In the last 7 years, several programmes have been introduced by the Centre to aid students. The youth is being readied to face bigger challenges more efficiently with the help of National Education Policy,” said PM Modi.
He further said that everyone should strive religiously for achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat.
“We should have achieved a lot of things by the time India completed 25 years of independence. But unfortunately, we could not do much. But now, we do not have even two minutes to waste. We must strive religiously for a self-reliant nation,” he added.
He further said that if we are not self-reliant, then how will India succeed and scale ultimate heights? And this can be done only by the youth of this country.
“This century is completely technology-driven. Students have invested the most important years of their lives in learning about technology. And this will make it impossible for any other force to stop you from excelling,” said the Prime Minister.
At the convocation, all the students were issued digital degrees through an in-house blockchain-driven technology developed at the Institute under the National Blockchain Project.
The Prime Minister also launched the blockchain-based digital degrees. These digital degrees can be verified globally and are unforgeable.
Later in the day, Prime Minister will visit inaugurate the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project at around 1.30 pm.
Centre expanding, redefining development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stated that the Centre is expanding and redefining the focus of ‘development’ to the tier II and tier III cities which have boosted the confidence of youth in these cities.
Addressing at the inauguration of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project alongside the Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project, the Prime Minister said that earlier the development was restricted to metro cities but the present BJP-led government is giving priority to the ‘ignored cities’ through electricity availability, sewage system creation, and better connectivity.
PM Modi said, “We are expanding and redefining the focus of ‘development’ which was earlier limited to ‘metro towns’ to other parts of the country, giving access to tier II and tier III cities ranging from sewage system to connectivity.”
“Before 2014, only 5 cities in the country had metro services. Today, it is functional in 5 cities of Uttar Pradesh and 27 cities have functional metros across the nation,” said the Prime Minister.
“This has helped the confidence of youth in tier-II and tier-III cities,” he added.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the completed section of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project and took a metro ride today.
The completed 9 km long section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project stretches from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel.
The entire length of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project is 32 km and is being built at a cost of over Rs 11,000 crore. Kanpur Metro is going to be the fastest built metro project in the country.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath started the construction work of the Kanpur metro project on November 15, 2019, and the trial run took place on the 9 km IIT to Motijheel Priority Corridor on November 10, 2021, in less than two years.
Besides, the Metro Rail Project, Prime Minister also inaugurated the Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project.
As per the PMO, the 356 Km long Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project has a capacity of around 3.45 million metric tonnes per annum. (ANI)