**Executive Summary**
On March 31, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the convocation ceremony of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar. The address highlighted the university's resurgence as a symbol of international cooperation and its vital role in India’s goal to become a developed nation by 2047. Key takeaways included the promotion of Buddhist scholarship and the importance of ethics-based education in solving global challenges.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Historical Legacy and Resurgence**
* Ancient Nalanda served as a premier global learning center for eight centuries before its decline.
* The modern university represents a commitment to re-establishing this legacy through visionary leadership and the coordination of partner nations.
* The institution serves as a model for how diverse nations can achieve shared goals through common values.
**Educational Philosophy and Values**
* The university fosters a culture of debate, dialogue, and the welcoming of diverse ideologies.
* Knowledge is viewed as inextricably linked to ethics, compassion, and the broader welfare of humanity.
* The current graduating class is highly diverse, with over half the students coming from more than 30 different countries.
**Future Institutional Goals**
* The university aims to establish itself as a leading global center for Buddhist studies rooted in India’s classical knowledge traditions.
* Nalanda University is expected to play a critical role in India’s path toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
* The institution is encouraged to build a lasting legacy that references the ancient library’s benchmark of millions of manuscripts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Graduating Students**
**Impact**
Students are recognized for their perseverance and intellectual commitment. They are now part of a civilizational promise to ensure knowledge and dialogue serve humanity.
**Action Required**
Apply independent and critical thinking rooted in compassion to address complex global challenges.
**Nalanda University Administration and Faculty**
**Impact**
The institution is tasked with carving out a distinct global identity based on both academic excellence and civilizational values.
**Action Required**
Invest in Buddhist studies with resolve and openness; continue to foster an environment for international scholarship.
**Partner Nations**
**Impact**
International partners are identified as essential contributors to the university’s resurgence and its ability to achieve lofty educational goals.
**Action Required**
Maintain sustained institutional efforts and coordination to support the university's growth as a leading educational institution in Asia.
Key Entities Referenced
Nalanda University: An international center of learning in Bihar established to revive the ancient institution's legacy as a global hub for academic excellence and Buddhist studies.
Droupadi Murmu: The President of India who addressed the convocation, emphasizing the university's role in fulfilling India's civilizational promise and national development.
Developed Nation by 2047: A strategic national goal and timeline for India's advancement, within which Nalanda University is identified as playing a vital institutional role.
Rajgir, Bihar: The geographical location central to the university's modern campus and its historical site.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION
CEREMONY OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY
ANCIENT NALANDA WELCOMED DIVERSE IDEOLOGIES
AND FOSTERED A CULTURE OF DEBATE AND DIALOGUE:
PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU
AS INDIA MOVES TOWARDS BECOMING A DEVELOPED
NATION BY 2047, INSTITUTIONS LIKE NALANDA
UNIVERSITY WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE: PRESIDENT
DROUPADI MURMU
Posted On: 31 MAR 2026 3:39PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the convocation ceremony of Nalanda
University at Rajgir, Bihar today (March 31, 2026).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that today’s convocation ceremony is a reaffirmation of a
civilizational promise: a promise that knowledge shall endure, that dialogue shall prevail, and that learning
shall continue to serve humanity. She congratulated graduating students and said that their achievements
are the result of perseverance, discipline, and intellectual commitment. She was happy to note that over
half of the graduating cohort today comprises international students from more than 30 countries.The President said that the ancient Nalanda University stood as a renowned center of learning for nearly
eight centuries. The decline of Nalanda constituted a monumental loss—not only for India but for the
entire world. Nevertheless, the concept of Nalanda remained alive. Its resurgence in our times symbolizes
a national and international commitment to re-establishing that glorious legacy within a modern
context. She underlined that this resurgence has been made possible through visionary leadership,
sustained institutional efforts, and the coordination of partner nations. It serves as an illustration of how
diverse nations can achieve lofty goals when guided by shared values.
The President said that ancient Nalanda welcomed diverse ideologies and fostered a culture of debate and
dialogue. Here, knowledge was never viewed in isolation; rather, it was inextricably linked to ethics,
society, and the broader welfare of humanity. She emphasized that this ideal remains profoundly relevant
even today. At a time when the world faces numerous complex challenges, the need for independent and
critical thinking—rooted in compassion—is greater than ever before. She expressed confidence thatNalanda University will emerge as a leading educational institution in Asia and across the globe. It will
carve out a distinct identity for itself, distinguished not only by its academic excellence but also by its
values.
The President said that India has a deep and living connection with Buddhist philosophy and practice. This
connection must be nurtured with seriousness and with a comprehensive understanding of India’s classical
knowledge traditions. Buddhist scholarship must remain rooted in India’s civilizational foundations while
engaging with its diverse expressions across Asia. She expressed confidence that Nalanda University can
emerge as a leading global center for Buddhist studies. She urged the University to invest in this field with
resolve, depth and openness. She said that in doing so, Nalanda University will again be fulfilling a role
that is centuries old.
The President said that the library of ancient Nalanda is said to have contained millions of manuscripts.
With that lofty benchmark as a reference, what we are building here today, will be a lasting legacy. As
India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, institutions like Nalanda University will play
a vital role.
Please click here to see the President's Speech-
***
MJPS/PRK
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