In his first public address after the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the 57th convocation ceremony of IIT-Delhi on Saturday, urged graduates to question ideas and practices that are accepted without scrutiny.However, he advised them not to stop at questioning, but to have the courage to find solutions to the problems they identify.Recalling his virtual participation in the institute’s convocation during the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi told the 3,036 graduating students that, unlike university examinations, life’s most significant challenges are often entirely “out of syllabus”. He stressed that true success lies not merely in answering pre-defined questions, but in identifying and solving problems that society has come to accept complacently.Reflecting on the historical burdens borne by earlier generations, the PM recalled how the singular goal of achieving Independence defined an era marked by immense sacrifice and perseverance. He challenged the current generation to define its own legacy by aligning career aspirations with the nation’s developmental goals over the next three decades.“The basis of every decision of yours should absolutely be what the benefit to the country will be and which national need will be fulfilled,” Modi said.Emphasising sectors such as artificial intelligence, data centres, critical minerals, deep-sea exploration and quantum computing as crucial to the nation’s future, he encouraged graduates to seize opportunities in these emerging domains.Highlighting the rapid growth of the space sector following government reforms, Modi lauded young engineers who are now designing and launching rockets, a feat once limited to a handful of countries.“Today, that same space sector has beautifully become a sky of new opportunities for thousands of our youths,” he said.Pointing to advances in semiconductor manufacturing, Modi noted that the first production units were already operational and helping build confidence in India’s technological capabilities.He also spoke about how young innovators were transforming agriculture, healthcare delivery and defence through the use of drones.Warning graduates against the distractions of the social media era, Modi urged them not to compare their salaries, placements or startup achievements with those of their peers. Instead, he advised them to prioritise their mental and physical wellbeing while focusing on self-improvement.The PM also remotely inaugurated Param Pragya, an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility established at IIT Delhi’s Sonepat campus.IIT Delhi Director Prof Rangan Banerjee said: “As you go out into the world, let me offer you a few words of advice. Remember what you have learnt, but continue learning throughout your life. Always choose the ethical and right path. Focus on larger societal goals — your individual goals will automatically be met. Strike a balance in your lives. Make time for the passions you enjoy and the people you love.”In his first address at an educational institution since assuming charge as Union Education Minister, Pralhad Joshi said India’s education ecosystem had become research-driven and future-ready, asserting that the country’s youth were no longer merely competing with the world but were helping lead it.The first batch of students from the Bachelor of Design (BDes), Executive MBA, MSc in Biological Sciences and MA in Culture, Society and Thought programmes, who graduated in 2026, also received their degrees at the ceremony.Anish Tanwar (19), a BTech graduate in Civil Engineering, was the youngest graduate, while 74-year-old PhD scholar Chandra Shekhar Prasad was the oldest among those who received degrees at the convocation. Of the 587 PhD graduates, 245 were women.