India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Saturday urged graduating students to recognise their role in shaping a developed India while addressing the 15th annual convocation of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur.
He said that today’s generation is uniquely positioned after a decade of steady progress and increased global exposure. He added that the graduating batch will play a defining role in realising the vision of a “Viksit Bharat.”
A total of 552 students received their degrees at the convocation held at IIM Raipur’s Naya Raipur campus. This included 314 students from the flagship MBA programme, 230 from Executive MBA courses, and eight doctoral scholars. The scale and diversity of the graduating cohort reflect the institute’s expanding academic reach and growing stature.
Dr Jaishankar said the graduating batch belongs to a generation that will play a defining role in achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat.” He noted that access to technology, information, and global networks has opened up opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine even a generation ago.
He said that the graduating class should consider itself fortunate, noting that India stands at a stage where it is ready to accelerate its development journey. “Your skill sets will help steer the nation in its quest for prosperity,” he added, urging students to recognise both the opportunity and the responsibility that lie ahead.
The External Affairs Minister said the country is now among the world’s top five economies and has shown resilience in dealing with a series of global disruptions in recent years.
He added that the sense of optimism visible across India is rooted in the progress made over the past decade and a growing confidence in the country’s future direction. “There is a sense of confidence in India that is not as visible in many other parts of the world,” he said.
Puneet Dalmia, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Raipur, also addressed the gathering, reflecting on a rapidly changing global landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, climate change, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
He urged students to remain adaptable while staying grounded in their values. “Knowledge is important, but adaptability is critical. Strategy matters, but speed matters more. Ambition is necessary, but integrity is non-negotiable,” Dalmia said.
Gold medals were presented to the top-performing students during the convocation, with Shivang Chhikara, Shalini Dubey, and Boban Chacko among the recipients. Institute officials said IIM Raipur continues to strengthen its position, with its Phase-II campus expansion underway and a strong placement season recording an average package of ₹20.93 lakh per annum.