The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the 10th Annual Convocation of National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra today (April 9, 2013).

Speaking on the occasion the President said Indian institutions of higher learning should become hotbeds of innovation.

Pointing out that our Universities and Technical institutions continue to be challenged by problems of quality, the President called for drastic action to reform the way education was imparted. He said a culture of excellence needs to be embedded in the thought process of higher education providers.

The President stated that in a world of depleting natural resources, future growth can be secured only through innovation and constant technology up-gradation.

Quoting a recent ‘Forbes’ survey, he said only three Indian companies have been listed amongst the world's most innovative companies. He expressed confidence that if the process of innovation is made a permanent feature in Indian institutions of learning, this number will increase.

The President called for immediate measures for setting up more incubation parks, building linkages with grass-root innovators, enhancing research fellowships, and promoting inter-disciplinary research.

The President presented Gold Medals to 17 Post Graduate students on the occasion.