President's Secretariat press release · 31 March 2026 · pibtracker filter

PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY

PRID2247280 MinistryPresident's Secretariat Released31 March 2026 Reading11 min

ANCIENT NALANDA WELCOMED DIVERSE IDEOLOGIES AND FOSTERED A CULTURE OF DEBATE AND DIALOGUE: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU AS INDIA MOVES TOWARDS BECOMING A DEVELOPED NATION BY 2047, INSTITUTIONS LIKE NALANDA UNIVERSITY WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU Posted On: 31 MAR 2026 3:39PM by PIB Delhi The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the convocation ceremony of Nalanda University at Rajgir, Bihar today (March 31, 2026). Speaking on the occasion, the President said that today’s convocation ceremony is a reaffirmation of a civilizational promise: a promise that knowledge shall endure, that dialogue shall prevail, and that learning shall continue to serve humanity. She congratulated graduating students and said that their achievements are the result of perseverance, discipline, and intellectual commitment. She was happy to note that over half of the graduating cohort today comprises international students from more than 30 countries. The President said that the ancient Nalanda University stood as a renowned center of learning for nearly eight centuries. The decline of Nalanda constituted a monumental loss—not only for India but for the entire world. Nevertheless, the concept of Nalanda remained alive. Its resurgence in our times symbolizes a national and international commitment to re-establishing that glorious legacy within a modern context. She underlined that this resurgence has been made possible through visionary leadership, sustained institutional efforts, and the coordination of partner nations. It serves as an illustration of how diverse nations can achieve lofty goals when guided by shared values. The President said that ancient Nalanda welcomed diverse ideologies and fostered a culture of debate and dialogue. Here, knowledge was never viewed in isolation; rather, it was inextricably linked to ethics, society, and the broader welfare of humanity. She emphasized that this ideal remains profoundly relevant even today. At a time when the world faces numerous complex challenges, the need for independent and critical thinking—rooted in compassion—is greater than ever before. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University will emerge as a leading educational institution in Asia and across the globe. It will carve out a distinct identity for itself, distinguished not only by its academic excellence but also by its values. The President said that India has a deep and living connection with Buddhist philosophy and practice. This connection must be nurtured with seriousness and with a comprehensive understanding of India’s classical knowledge traditions. Buddhist scholarship must remain rooted in India’s civilizational foundations while engaging with its diverse expressions across Asia. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University can emerge as a leading global center for Buddhist studies. She urged the University to invest in this field with resolve, depth and openness. She said that in doing so, Nalanda University will again be fulfilling a role that is centuries old. The President said that the library of ancient Nalanda is said to have contained millions of manuscripts. With that lofty benchmark as a referenc e, what we are building here today, will be a lasting legacy. As India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, institutions like Nalanda University will play a vital role. Please click here to see the President's Speech- *** MJPS/PRK (Release ID: 2247280) Visitor Counter : 1184 Read this release in: Urdu , हिन्दी , Bengali , Gujarati President's Secretariat PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY ANCIENT NALANDA WELCOMED DIVERSE IDEOLOGIES AND FOSTERED A CULTURE OF DEBATE AND DIALOGUE: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU AS INDIA MOVES TOWARDS BECOMING A DEVELOPED NATION BY 2047, INSTITUTIONS LIKE NALANDA UNIVERSITY WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU Posted On: 31 MAR 2026 3:39PM by PIB Delhi The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the convocation ceremony of Nalanda University at Rajgir, Bihar today (March 31, 2026). Speaking on the occasion, the President said that today’s convocation ceremony is a reaffirmation of a civilizational promise: a promise that knowledge shall endure, that dialogue shall prevail, and that learning shall continue to serve humanity. She congratulated graduating students and said that their achievements are the result of perseverance, discipline, and intellectual commitment. She was happy to note that over half of the graduating cohort today comprises international students from more than 30 countries. The President said that the ancient Nalanda University stood as a renowned center of learning for nearly eight centuries. The decline of Nalanda constituted a monumental loss—not only for India but for the entire world. Nevertheless, the concept of Nalanda remained alive. Its resurgence in our times symbolizes a national and international commitment to re-establishing that glorious legacy within a modern context. She underlined that this resurgence has been made possible through visionary leadership, sustained institutional efforts, and the coordination of partner nations. It serves as an illustration of how diverse nations can achieve lofty goals when guided by shared values. The President said that ancient Nalanda welcomed diverse ideologies and fostered a culture of debate and dialogue. Here, knowledge was never viewed in isolation; rather, it was inextricably linked to ethics, society, and the broader welfare of humanity. She emphasized that this ideal remains profoundly relevant even today. At a time when the world faces numerous complex challenges, the need for independent and critical thinking—rooted in compassion—is greater than ever before. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University will emerge as a leading educational institution in Asia and across the globe. It will carve out a distinct identity for itself, distinguished not only by its academic excellence but also by its values. The President said that India has a deep and living connection with Buddhist philosophy and practice. This connection must be nurtured with seriousness and with a comprehensive understanding of India’s classical knowledge traditions. Buddhist scholarship must remain rooted in India’s civilizational foundations while engaging with its diverse expressions across Asia. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University can emerge as a leading global center for Buddhist studies. She urged the University to invest in this field with resolve, depth and openness. She said that in doing so, Nalanda University will again be fulfilling a role that is centuries old. The President said that the library of ancient Nalanda is said to have contained millions of manuscripts. With that lofty benchmark as a referenc e, what we are building here today, will be a lasting legacy. As India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, institutions like Nalanda University will play a vital role. Please click here to see the President's Speech- *** MJPS/PRK (Release ID: 2247280) ANCIENT NALANDA WELCOMED DIVERSE IDEOLOGIES AND FOSTERED A CULTURE OF DEBATE AND DIALOGUE: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU AS INDIA MOVES TOWARDS BECOMING A DEVELOPED NATION BY 2047, INSTITUTIONS LIKE NALANDA UNIVERSITY WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU " /> The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the convocation ceremony of Nalanda University at Rajgir, Bihar today (March 31, 2026).  <img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/PR131032026IY51.jpeg" style="height:400px; width:600px" /> Speaking on the occasion, the President said that today’s convocation ceremony is a reaffirmation of a civilizational promise: a promise that knowledge shall endure, that dialogue shall prevail, and that learning shall continue to serve humanity. She congratulated graduating students and said that their achievements are the result of perseverance, discipline, and intellectual commitment. She was happy to note that over half of the graduating cohort today comprises international students from more than 30 countries. <img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/PR2310320261PGF.JPG" style="height:400px; width:600px" /> The President said that the ancient Nalanda University stood as a renowned center of learning for nearly eight centuries. The decline of Nalanda constituted a monumental loss—not only for India but for the entire world. Nevertheless, the concept of Nalanda remained alive. Its resurgence in our times symbolizes a national and international commitment to re-establishing that glorious legacy within a modern context. She underlined that this resurgence has been made possible through visionary leadership, sustained institutional efforts, and the coordination of partner nations. It serves as an illustration of how diverse nations can achieve lofty goals when guided by shared values. <img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/PR331032026J4IP.jpeg" style="height:400px; width:600px" /> The President said that ancient Nalanda welcomed diverse ideologies and fostered a culture of debate and dialogue. Here, knowledge was never viewed in isolation; rather, it was inextricably linked to ethics, society, and the broader welfare of humanity. She emphasized that this ideal remains profoundly relevant even today. At a time when the world faces numerous complex challenges, the need for independent and critical thinking—rooted in compassion—is greater than ever before. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University will emerge as a leading educational institution in Asia and across the globe. It will carve out a distinct identity for itself, distinguished not only by its academic excellence but also by its values. The President said that India has a deep and living connection with Buddhist philosophy and practice. This connection must be nurtured with seriousness and with a comprehensive understanding of India’s classical knowledge traditions. Buddhist scholarship must remain rooted in India’s civilizational foundations while engaging with its diverse expressions across Asia. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University can emerge as a leading global center for Buddhist studies. She urged the University to invest in this field with resolve, depth and openness. She said that in doing so, Nalanda University will again be fulfilling a role that is centuries old. <img alt="" src="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/PR431032026Y47C.JPG" style="height:400px; width:600px" /> The President said that the library of ancient Nalanda is said to have contained millions of manuscripts. With that lofty benchmark as a reference, what we are building here today, will be a lasting legacy. As India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, institutions like Nalanda University will play a vital role. <a href="https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2026/mar/doc2026331837001.pdf" target="_blank">Please click here to see the President's Speech-</a>   *** MJPS/PRK " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "none"; } //function HandleAudio() { // if (isPlaying == true) { // //Playing already Pause it // pauseAudio(); // } else { // //Play the music // playAudio(); // } //} var synth = window.speechSynthesis; function CleanHtml(html) { html = html.replace(/ /gi, ''); return html; } function stripHtml(html) { let tmp = document.createElement("DIV"); tmp.innerHTML = CleanHtml(html); return tmp.textContent || tmp.innerText || ""; } $(document).ready(function () { //for responsive tables $("table").each(function () { if (!$(this).closest(".table-responsive").length) { $(this).wrap(" "); } }); var width = $(window).width(); if (width $(document).ready(function () { var width = $(window).width(); if (width @media print { .sticky-social, .sticky-social_mb, .pull-right, #printPDF { display: none !important; } } .f_vl { padding-right: 30px; font-size: 17px; cursor: pointer; } .log_oo { // width: 20%; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; } .log_oo img { width: 150px; /*width: 100%; height: auto;*/ } .sticky-social_mb { position: fixed; bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 100%; } .social_mb { list-style: none; display: flex; width: 100%; margin-bottom: -8px; } .social_mb a { padding: 8px 0px; font-size: 30px; transition: all 0.8s ease-in-out; 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height: auto !important; } h2 { font-size: 20px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; } h3 { font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; } } /* === Film Roll Badge Styling(IFFI2025 countdown) === */ .film-roll-badge { position: absolute; top:82%; right: 20px; width: 230px; height: 70px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 18px, #6e2b8b 18px, #6e2b8b 36px ); border-top: 8px solid #9a2375; border-bottom: 8px solid #9a2375; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); animation: moveFilm 8s linear infinite; z-index: 10; } /* film sprocket holes */ .film-roll-badge::before, .film-roll-badge::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 10px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 10px, #fff 10px, #fff 20px ); left: 0; z-index: 2; } .film-roll-badge::before { top: -4px; } .film-roll-badge::after { bottom: -4px; } .film-roll-inner { position: relative; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; animation: flicker 2s infinite ease-in-out; } .countdown-text { font-size: 1.3rem; font-weight: 700; color: #fff; text-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4), 0 0 10px #000; white-space: nowrap; } /* === Animations === */ @keyframes moveFilm { 0% { background-position: 0 0; } 100% { background-position: 120px 0; } } @keyframes flicker { 0%, 100% { opacity: 1; } 50% { opacity: 0.9; } 25% { opacity: 0.95; } 75% { opacity: 0.85; } } /* === Responsive Adjustments === */ @media (max-width: 1500px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 68%; right: 18px; /* width: 220px; */ height: 65px; font-size: 0.85rem; } .press-section { margin-top: 35px; } } @media (max-width: 992px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 52%; right: 10px; width: 200px; height: 60px; } } @media (max-width: 768px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 56%; right: 10px; width: 124px; height: 55px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.9rem; } } @media (max-width: 576px) { .film-roll-badge { top: 59%; right: 5px; /* width: 160px; */ height: 50px; } .countdown-text { font-size: 0.85rem; } } const festivalStart = new Date("2025-11-20T00:00:00").getTime(); const festivalEnd = new Date("2025-11-28T23:59:59").getTime(); const countdownElement = document.getElementById("countdown"); const interval = setInterval(() => { const now = new Date().getTime(); // BEFORE FESTIVAL — show days + hours left if (now = festivalStart && now el.style.width = "350px"); clearInterval(interval); } }, 1000); //

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PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY

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