Highlights from the 102nd Convocation Ceremony

On February 28, 2026, the University of Delhi (DU) hosted its 102nd Annual Convocation at a grand ceremony where over 1.2 lakh students received their degrees. This milestone event marked the conferral of undergraduate, postgraduate, and Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) degrees to 120,408 graduates, alongside 750 PhD scholars who were awarded their doctorates. Vice President of India and DU Chancellor Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan served as the chief guest, presiding over the proceedings and releasing digital degrees for the batch.

DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh welcomed the dignitaries and graduates, emphasizing the university's commitment to excellence amid evolving educational landscapes. The ceremony showcased gold and silver medals awarded to outstanding performers, with more than 132 such honors distributed. An accompanying exhibition on doctoral research at the Central Library highlighted innovative theses, underscoring DU's research prowess.

Vice President Radhakrishnan's Keynote: A Vision for Nation-Building

In his address, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan inspired the graduates by declaring them the 'architects of Viksit Bharat'—India's vision for becoming a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of independence. He elaborated that their degrees represent not mere certificates but a profound commitment to the nation, urging them to embody humanity, character, and responsibility. 'Convocation is not an ending but a beginning,' he stated, calling on youth to innovate with integrity and serve society selflessly.

Radhakrishnan highlighted universities' pivotal role as engines of research, entrepreneurship, and indigenous knowledge systems. He specifically challenged DU to ascend to the global top 100 rankings, fostering innovations rooted in Indian realities yet competitive worldwide. This aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), emphasizing self-reliance through homegrown solutions in technology, manufacturing, and sustainability.

His words resonated deeply, drawing applause and setting a forward-looking tone for the graduates entering a dynamic job market. For those seeking academic careers, platforms like higher ed faculty jobs offer opportunities to contribute to this vision.

Understanding Viksit Bharat 2047: Higher Education's Central Role

Viksit Bharat @2047 is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's blueprint for transforming India into a $30 trillion economy with world-class infrastructure, universal healthcare, and top-tier education by 2047. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are cornerstone pillars, tasked with boosting Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) to 50% from current ~28%, enhancing research output, and skill development for emerging sectors like AI, green energy, and biotech.

In this context, DU's convocation message amplifies national priorities under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multidisciplinary learning, research universities, and industry linkages. Step-by-step, achieving this involves: increasing R&D funding to 2% of GDP, establishing innovation hubs, and international collaborations. Concrete examples include IITs' startup incubators producing unicorns and DU's recent patents in sustainable tech.

• Target GER: 50% by 2035, universal by 2047.
• Research focus: 10x publication growth, top 100 global unis.
• Skills: AI literacy, vocational integration for 1.4 billion population.

For deeper career advice, check how to craft a winning academic CV.

Empowering Women: A Shining Spotlight at DU

A standout feature was the dominance of women: over 50% of graduates and more than 70% of gold medallists were female, reflecting India's surge in female higher education enrolment. Nationally, women's enrolment rose 26% in 2024 alone, reaching near gender parity with GER at 35.4% for females versus 28% overall. In DU, since CUET's 2022 launch, female UG admissions have outpaced males—39,242 women in 2024-25 versus fewer men—thanks to NEP reforms promoting equity.

This trend addresses historical barriers like access in rural areas and STEM biases, where India leads globally with 43% female STEM enrolment. Implications include diverse leadership pipelines, boosting innovation. DU's success stems from scholarships, safe campuses, and women-centric programs. Graduates can leverage this for roles via scholarships and higher ed admin jobs.

Photo by Brijender Dua on Unsplash

Digital Degrees: Revolutionizing Credential Verification

VP Radhakrishnan released digital degrees for 1.2 lakh students via DU's DigiLocker-integrated platform, a pioneer initiative since 2021. These blockchain-secured, verifiable credentials allow instant sharing with employers, reducing fraud and paperwork. Process: Students log into digicerti.du.ac.in, authenticate via Aadhaar/DigiLocker, download/share QR-enabled PDFs.

This supports Aatmanirbhar by streamlining processes, aligning with Digital India. Benefits include global employability, as seen in DU alumni securing positions at FAANG firms. Future: Full integration with ABC (Academic Bank of Credits) for seamless mobility.DU Digital Degree Portal

Delhi University's Legacy and Global Ambitions

Founded in 1922, DU is India's largest university with 90,000+ UG students across 69 colleges and 16 faculties. QS World Rankings 2026 places it at 328 globally, NIRF 2025 at 4th nationally—strong in employability (QS 201st). Recent feats: Rising female admissions, PhD output, and entrepreneurship cells spawning startups in fintech and healthtech.

VP's top 100 call demands ramped R&D, international tie-ups like with Liverpool-Oxford. DU's FYUP rollout under NEP enhances flexibility, preparing for Industry 4.0.

Universities as Catalysts for Research and Innovation

Indian HEIs must pivot to research-led growth. DU exemplifies with centers like DRDO collaborations and patents surging. Entrepreneurship: Incubators mentored 100+ ventures last year. Indigenous knowledge: Integrating Ayurveda, yoga into curricula per NEP.

• Steps to innovation: Idea validation, funding via NIDHI, market launch.
• Case: DU alum-founded edtech unicorn valued at $1B.

Stakeholders—govt, industry, faculty—advocate public-private partnerships. For postdocs, explore postdoc jobs.

Navigating Challenges in India's Higher Education Landscape

Despite progress, issues persist: Faculty shortages (30% vacancies), funding gaps (0.7% GDP on R&D), quality disparities. Solutions: NEP's autonomy for top unis, foreign campuses (e.g., Deakin in GIFT City). Viksit Bharat demands addressing NEET rates via mental health support.

Photo by Fuzail Ahmad on Unsplash

Career Pathways for DU Graduates in a Viksit Era

Graduates eye diverse roles: academia, research, startups, policy. With India's economy booming, demand surges for skilled talent. Actionable insights:

• Leverage Rate My Professor for mentor insights.
• Apply to university jobs in India.
• Upskill via higher ed career advice.

Real-world: DU PhDs heading ISRO projects, contributing to Chandrayaan.

Looking Ahead: DU and India's Higher Ed Transformation

DU's convocation signals momentum toward Viksit Bharat. With NEP, digital tools, and visionary leadership, Indian universities will propel the nation. Graduates, embody the VP's call—innovate, serve, excel. Explore higher ed jobs, rate your professors, and career advice to launch your journey. Visit India higher ed opportunities for more.