Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urges IIT Madras international graduates to lead innovation for global south
New Delhi, June 6
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday attended the degrees distribution programme for international students at IIT Madras as the Chief Guest.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the Foreign Secretary extended greetings and best wishes to the graduating students and encouraged them to use their potential, specifically highlighting the needs and potential of the Global South.
"Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri presided as Chief Guest at IIT Madras's degree distribution programme for international students on 05 June 2026. FS congratulated the graduating students and exhorted them to deploy the knowledge and skills acquired at IIT Madras to address the opportunities and challenges before humankind and the Global South in an era of technological transformation," the post read.
Separately, over 10,000 girls qualified for IITs via JEE Advanced 2026 for the first time, recording the highest-ever pass rate among female aspirants, said IIT Roorkee on Friday.
Highlighting the growing participation of women in technical education, IIT Roorkee said, "The trend reflects the growing participation of young women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, with the number of female candidates appearing for JEE Advanced increasing significantly in recent years."
On the significance of the achievement, the institute noted, "The record qualification figures highlight the expanding talent pool of women aspiring to pursue engineering and technology education at the country's premier institutions."
IIT Roorkee added, "While we strive for an even better ratio, this achievement represents a significant step towards greater gender diversity in technical education and reinforces the ongoing transformation of India's STEM ecosystem through broader access, opportunity and participation."
Meanwhile, Arohi Deshpande of the IIT Delhi zone was the top-ranked woman candidate, obtaining 280 out of the 360 marks. She got the 77th rank in the Common Rank List (CRL).
The results of JEE Advanced 2026 have been announced on June 1, with Subham Kumar from the IIT Delhi zone securing All India Rank (AIR) 1. He topped the examination with 330 marks out of a total of 360.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who studied abroad, I see the immense potential in this approach. India's IITs are globally recognized, and encouraging international students to focus on the Global South's challenges—like affordable healthcare, clean energy, and digital inclusion—is a smart diplomatic move. The 10,000 girls qualifying for IITs also shows that when you invest in education, talent emerges regardless of gender. Well done!
The girls qualifying record is fantastic, but let's not forget the deeper work needed. While 10,000 is a milestone, the total number of JEE Advanced candidates is much higher—we still have a long way to go for true gender parity in STEM. I hope institutions like IIT Roorkee continue to create supportive environments for women, not just celebrate numbers. But yes, proud moment nonetheless! 👩🔬
I'm glad the Foreign Secretary is recognizing that the Global South isn't just a recipient of technology—it's a co-creator. IIT Madras has alumni in over 50 countries now. If these graduates return home and apply Indian-style frugal innovation to problems in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia, that's true "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" in action. The JEE results show our education system is robust, but we need more support for grassroots innovators too.
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