Sonepat (Haryana): Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday called upon students to pursue value-based education alongside academic excellence, stressing that character, discipline, and hard work are vital for success.

Addressing the third convocation of SRM University Delhi-NCR, Sonepat, he congratulated the graduating students, saying their degrees symbolise not only knowledge but also the values and resilience developed during their academic journey.

Emphasising the role of teachers, he said the success of students reflects the tireless guidance of their mentors. “When character is lost, everything is lost,” the Vice-President remarked, urging students to uphold integrity and good habits in their personal and professional lives.

Radhakrishnan noted that India has achieved its best-ever performance in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with 54 universities making the list, placing the country fourth globally.

Highlighting the transformative impact of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he said it envisions multidisciplinary learning and research-driven growth, positioning India as a global knowledge hub. He encouraged students to make full use of the flexibility and opportunities provided by the policy.

He also spoke about the government's Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, which promotes inclusive growth through scholarships, financial aid, and initiatives benefitting women and marginalised communities.

Advising graduates to remain humble in success and resilient in failure, Radhakrishnan said, “Hard work is the only key to success, and happiness is a state of mind.” He urged them never to forget their parents' sacrifices in shaping their future.

Haryana Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, SRM University founder Dr. T.R. Paarivendhar, Chancellor Dr. Ravi Pachamuthu, and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paramjit Singh Jaswal were present.