Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the Presentation of ‘standard’ to 125 Helicopter Squadron and ‘colours’ to Mechanical Training Institute of Indian Air Force
1.It gives me immense pleasure to be here today at Air Force Station Tambaram, one of the oldest establishments of the Indian Air Force, to award the President’s ‘Standard’ to 125 Helicopter Squadron and ‘Colours’ to Mechanical Training Institute. These units have a glorious past, embedded with rich heritage, stellar efforts and selfless service to the Nation.
1.At the very outset, I would like to welcome guests from India and abroad for participating in the presentation of the ninth national biennial award for grassroots innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge. At the outset, let me congratulate the award winners for their contribution in the sphere of innovation.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!
1.To begin with, let me congratulate the winners of Visitor’s Awards, 2017 – Jawaharlal Nehru University, which has been adjudged the Best University; and the scientists from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Banaras Hindu University and Tezpur University, who have been awarded in the categories of innovation and research.
1.I am happy to join you for this concluding session of Pitch@RB and address entrepreneurs, investors, industry members, start-ups and other enablers of the start-up eco-system. It gives me pleasure to see this conglomeration of young and innovative minds, who may not be very experienced yet, but have the drive to succeed.
1.I am indeed very happy to be amidst you on the occasion of International Women’s Day. We, in India acknowledge, remember and celebrate our women in many ways in our everyday life. Today, on International Women’s Day, we join the world in paying tribute to women - the world over - for their selfless gifts to society.
I am happy to be here amongst you at the closing of the one week long ‘Festival of Innovations’. The festival has seen spirited exchanges and collaboration between different stakeholders who are part of the innovation value chain.
I am happy to be here today for the special convocation of the University of Mumbai, which is one of the first three universities to be set up in India. This historic institution is a beacon of knowledge and scholarship. It has produced illustrious individuals in all fields.
1.The enormous gap between the potential and reality of development in Bihar and Jharkhand, the former having plenty of fertile land and the latter endowed with abundant mineral resources, has attracted the attention of many scholars.
A very good evening!
