Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the audience on the 16th Foundation Day of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, urged the students and researchers to pursue another IIT (taking the initiative, improving technology, and transforming it) after completing their IIT degrees.
He said, “There is always a vision and mission behind setting up any educational institution. IIT Mandi pursued this goal very well, but we expect you to become a leader in technological education, knowledge, and innovation, these being of utmost importance in today’s world.”
The minister said, “Inculcating freedom of thinking in education is a goal of the government, and developing critical cutting-edge technology is one of the priorities of the government and we want institutes like IIT Mandi,would take the lead in developing cutting- edge technology in robotics and drones .”
He said, “The world is moving very fast in developing artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology and creating quantum computing; Google developed a Willow quantum chip, which Google claims do calculations in just five minutes, possible for most advanced supercomputers to do in several years, and such innovations could prove disruptive.”
“To the students of IIT Mandi, I want to say that India now needs its own AI-driven war doctrines; we must develop AI-powered strategies,gies for defense use, we need to create Indian artificial intelligence chips, and keep cybersecurity in mind, we must also develop firewalls and other security infrastructures.”
The minister also felicitated meritorious student researchers and faculty members.
In the address, Lt. Gen. Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon (Retd.), Chairman of BoG of IIT Mandi, said, “Himachal Pradesh is a land of brave warriors and reminded students of their duty towards the country. He stated name, integrity, and honor should never be compromised, urging them to always uphold the nation. He stressed that loyalty, honesty, and responsibility are the key virtues that shape a person’s life.
In his address, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, said, “IIT Mandi has always challenged frontiers in innovation, research, and learning, contributing extensively to India’s technology ecosystem.
He said, ” IIT Mandi is at the forefront of quantum AI, developing a 16-channel quantum AI computer to be completed this year. The institute has applied for a MeitY grant to build a 64-channel quantum AI computer, potentially making it India’s largest quantum computer within two years. Additionally, IIT Mandi houses an advanced semiconductor fabrication facility capable of producing 10-nanometer devices and is in discussions to expand it, positioning Himachal Pradesh as a semiconductor hub. The Advanced Material Research Centre, equipped with Raman and NMR spectroscopy, is set for a ₹50 crore upgrade to boost interdisciplinary material science research.”
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, IT advisor to the CM, Gokul Butail, among others, were present on the occasion.
