While delivering a speech during a convocation meeting at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on January 15, 2026, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu emphasised that graduates undergo a tremendous change in their lives when they join their profession after completing their education. No matter which field they select to join, whether corporate or government, or start their own business, their success will depend on certain basic values in their lives.
The President outlined the following important characteristics as being necessary for this new era. The President pointed out that everyone must have an inherent curiosity and a passion for ongoing learning throughout a lifetime. Moreover, courage and integrity of character are especially important in the face of a challenge.
The President also highlighted the developments in technology start-ups made by India over the past decade, noting that areas such as AI, space, and defence are also evolving. To promote this, she asked institutions of higher education to assume a catalyst role by increasing collaboration between industry and academia as well as focusing on research for societal needs.
The greater part of her speech was devoted to the problem of drug abuse in Punjab, which she said was a threat to the social and moral foundations of the area. She entrusted institutions of learning with the crucial task of steering the youth in the right direction. She firmly believed a healthy society was essential for the advancement of the nation, which needed the involvement of all members of the academic fraternity.
At last, the President mentioned the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, specifically his ideology of equality between both men and women. She was very pleased to see the massive number of girls receiving degrees and medals, which, according to her, was an indication of women’s empowerment.
In concluding, she said, “The coming two decades are decisive for the achievement of our goal of a Viksit Bharat, and this endeavour lies on the shoulders of our youth who have a scientific temperament and an attitude of unselfish service.”
