Dhanbad: Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and a highly trusted 1972-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, delivered the inaugural address at the Centenary Foundation Week of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad today. He emphasized India’s emergence as a global innovation hub, underscoring the country’s 100+ unicorns, over two lakh startups, and the third-largest startup ecosystem worldwide.
Celebrating 100 Years of IIT Dhanbad
Dr. Mishra praised IIT Dhanbad’s century-long contributions to mining, energy, earth sciences, and applied engineering, highlighting its pioneering role in mining education in Asia. He noted the institute’s collaborations with national institutions such as Coal India, ONGC, GSI, CMPDI, and NTPC, and its influence on standards in mine safety, coal exploration, oil and gas, and mineral beneficiation.
“A centenary is not merely a milestone, but a reminder of what sustained commitment can achieve when knowledge is used as a public good,” he said, urging the institute to align its efforts with India’s long-term vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
India’s Economic and Technological Trajectory
Dr. Mishra underscored India’s robust economic fundamentals amid global challenges such as the pandemic, trade wars, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. Citing 8.2% GDP growth in Q2 of FY 2025-26, he highlighted India’s resilience and emphasized the Prime Minister’s vision of balancing development with culture and nature, fostering inclusivity, innovation, and gender-led growth.
He elaborated on the transformative role of technology, noting India’s initiatives in AI, deep tech startups, and research funding, including:
- ₹1 lakh crore Anusandhan National Research Fund
- IndiaAI Mission for global AI leadership
- Dedicated Deep Tech Fund of Funds
Dr. Mishra emphasized the “4S” mantra – Scope, Scale, Speed, and Skill, citing initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, Digital India, UPI, and Mission Karmayogi as examples of inclusive, citizen-centric governance.
India as a Trusted Global Partner
Notably, Dr. Mishra described India as a Vishwa Bandhu, a trusted partner for many nations, especially across the Global South, blending modern capability with civilizational wisdom. He highlighted India’s achievements in frontier technologies, including:
- National Quantum Mission
- Space missions Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1
- Renewable energy capacity exceeding 200 GW
- National Green Hydrogen Mission
- Deep Ocean Mission
IIT Dhanbad’s Strategic Role in National Priorities
Dr. Mishra urged IIT Dhanbad to leverage its modern laboratories, supercomputing clusters, seismic observatories, and incubation ecosystem to contribute to national priorities, including climate, critical minerals, energy transition, materials, and advanced manufacturing. The institute’s designation as a Centre of Excellence under the National Critical Mineral Mission reflects national confidence in its expertise.
He stressed the importance of attitude, teamwork, humility, ethics, transparency, and collective effort alongside technical skills in achieving national goals.
Looking Ahead: Viksit Bharat 2047
Concluding his address, Dr. Mishra noted the alignment between institutional strengths and national goals, emphasizing that the next 25 years will determine India’s capacity to leverage knowledge, technology, and human capital to build a capable, equitable, and proud nation. He extended his best wishes to the faculty, students, and alumni for the institute’s second century.
