According to G.A. Ramadass, Director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), only 25 lakh students graduate in India each year, significantly less than China's 1.2 crore graduates. This translates to only 10% of the population receiving graduate-level education or higher, despite over 1,000 universities in the country.
Mr. Ramadass stressed that graduates should utilize their knowledge for societal welfare. He mentioned the New Education Policy (NEP) 2023 as aiming to address challenges in higher education.
The NIOT director highlighted India's growth as a global innovation center, emphasizing the surge in start-ups and the establishment of around 1.2 lakh technological companies. He also noted progress in gender and class equality but stressed the importance of equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities.
Mr. Ramadass further praised the global recognition of Indian universities, citing examples like IITs opening campuses abroad and India's rise as a global research hub. He called for increased government and corporate funding in education and research.
The speech was given at Thiruvalluvar University's 18th annual convocation, where degrees were awarded to 43,735 candidates, with 325 attending in person. The event was presided over by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi.