India was committed to addressing all challenges unitedly, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said

Reiterating that Jammu & Kashmir has been and will continue to be an integral part of India, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has said that any external interference in India’s internal affairs is unwarranted.

Addressing the convocation of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu on Friday, Vice President Naidu underlined India’s commitment to overall development and addressing all the challenges unitedly.

Calling upon national institutes like IIMs to offer innovative courses and diplomas,
VP Naidu said these had to be based on new market realities and demands of the fourth industrial revolution.

The Vice President called for bringing diverse fields like agriculture, business, technology, humanities and management together through these courses.

“This is the spirit of the multidisciplinary push of the New Education Policy. Remember, we cannot solve the problems of the future with the same superficial, segregated approach of the past”, he said.

Quality education had to be the spring board of development, he added.

Pointing out that India was at the crossroads today, he said the country had firmly resolved to take the path of sustainable, inclusive development.

"Certainly, education is at the heart of this transformation," he remarked.

He stressed on the need to build a vibrant, resurgent India that capitalizes on its traditional strengths and moves forward by absorbing the best in the world.

During the course of the convocation address, he noted that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic "has only prompted us to work harder and reach our national goals".

Vice President Naidu referred to the IMF raising its GDP growth forecast for India during the coming financial year from 11.5% to 12.5%, making India one of the fastest growing major economies.

"This is truly heartening. This speaks volumes about our resilience," he said.

Noting that Jammu and Kashmir had been an important centre of education since ancient times, he said, "We must continue to enrich that rich culture of learning and the culture of innovation".

Wishing the graduating students success in their life ahead, he said, "As future managers, you have to respond to a world that is changing very rapidly. Your ability to take decisions in an uncertain world, your agility to adapt to new contexts will become very crucial".