New Delhi, April 7 Advocating responsible and accountable use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, Vice President (V-P) C.P. Radhakrishnan said on Tuesday that scientific advancement should be guided by Bharat's ethical values.
Addressing the 39th Convocation Ceremony of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) where more than 3.2 lakh learners received their degrees, diplomas and certificates, the Vice President said that the greatest strength of Bharat lies in its belief in ethical values.
"He emphasised that modern development must go hand in hand with our traditions, and that scientific advancement should be guided by ethical values," a statement said.
Welcoming the adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP), Vice-President Radhakrishnan noted that IGNOU has introduced four-year undergraduate programmes with multiple exit options, making higher education more flexible and learner-centric.
He also commended the integration of Indian knowledge systems with modern education.
The Vice President said that emerging tools such as Artificial Intelligence can enhance learning experiences, improve student support and enable personalised education.
He added that there is no need to be afraid of modern developments.
He noted that there were apprehensions when computers were introduced in the country, with fears that they would take away jobs, however, they ultimately generated more employment and contributed to national growth.
The Vice President released the certificates on Digi Locker under the National Academic Depository (NAD) to ensure easy access for learners across the country.
He also launched the IGNOU Alumni Portal, which has more than five million registrations.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Uma Kanjilal, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Highlighting the transformative role of IGNOU, the Vice President described the university as a pillar of India's open and distance learning ecosystem, significantly expanding access to higher education across the country.
Emphasising its inclusive outreach, he noted that IGNOU has more than 14 lakh learners, with 56 per cent being women and 58 per cent coming from rural and disadvantaged communities.
He remarked that the university's learner base exceeds the population of many countries, reflecting its substantial contribution to educational equity, social mobility, and national development.
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