SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday addressed the inaugural ceremony ‘Navarambh’ to welcome incoming BTech, MTech, PhD, and MSc students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu and launched four new academic programmes.
The newly launched courses include Predictive Analytics, Engineering Physics, Tunnel Engineering, and Structural Engineering. The Lieutenant Governor said these programmes will address critical challenges in healthcare, infrastructure, and public services while promoting innovation and data-driven governance.
Sinha said science and technology will be the key drivers for Viksit Bharat and called on IIT students to contribute to this transformation. He stated that India expects IIT graduates to lead advancements in sectors like defence, artificial intelligence, automobile, and space.
“The era of conventional warfare is over. We must now focus on innovations in cybersecurity, AI-driven warfare, and modern communication systems,” the Lieutenant Governor said, referencing Operation Sindoor to highlight the evolving nature of defence technology.
He urged the faculty at IIT Jammu to expand research programmes of national relevance and align engineering education with real-world industrial challenges. He also emphasised greater involvement of IIT graduates in tech start-ups and deep technology domains.
Sinha said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, continued efforts are being made to create a supportive ecosystem for tech entrepreneurs, with India now offering better opportunities to IITians than abroad.
The Predictive Analytics programme will support decision-making across sectors, while the Engineering Physics course aims to bridge theoretical and practical knowledge for innovation in product development. The Tunnel and Structural Engineering programmes are designed to offer modern solutions, especially for regions like Jammu and Kashmir and other Himalayan areas.
The event was attended by Prof Manoj Singh Gaur, Director IIT Jammu; Prof Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University; senior officials; faculty members; and new students.
