Futuristic vision for development with appropriate knowledge is the need of the hour: Nitin Gadkari
October 06, 2025
India should aim to become number one in EV sector in next 5 years
NEW DELHI, 06 October 2025: Mr Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Govt of India today while addressing the 20th edition of ‘FICCI Higher Education Summit 2025’, said that futuristic vision for development with appropriate knowledge is the need of the hour. India’s strength lies in its young, talented and skilled manpower compared to any other nation. “This is a big strength of India and by using this strength, if we are successful in giving them the right education, right skills, then we can move ahead in the world,” he added.
Mr Gadkari while emphasizing the need for more research-based education, stated that we need to understand the problems at the grassroot level so that region-based solutions can be provided. Need-based, district-based, and state-based research is necessary at the practical grassroot level. Educational institutions should research and work on the requirements of particular district or state to get the desired results. “Upgradation of knowledge, relevance of knowledge along with development, and its cost-effective application is imperative. Innovation, entrepreneurship, science, technology, research, skill and successful practices, are all knowledge and conversion of knowledge into wealth is the future,” added Mr Gadkari.
The Minister further stated that higher education institutions should also focus on including and adopting successful innovative technologies in curriculum, practical application to strengthen future planning. Speaking on the EVs, Mr Gadkari stated that with adoption of new technologies in electronic vehicles, India’s EV market today stands at 3rd position with a market size of Rs 22 lakh crore. “I have urged all automobile companies to work in the direction of becoming number one in next 5 years and Hydrogen is the fuel for the future. We need to find domestic alternative to our imports and knowledge along with technology is crucial in finding domestic alternatives,” he emphasized.
Speaking on the India’s road and highways, Mr Gadkari stated that practical based research is important in reducing cost and waste to wealth is the key. “We have initiated a program under which we aim to use entire segregated solid waste in the country in road construction by 2027, thereby creating a value from the waste.
Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Chair, FICCI Higher Education Committee and Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International said that bridging borders is not just about internationalization, but it is much more. With Ministry's focus on internationalization through recent regulations, UGC and industry association bodies like FICCI are playing a pivotal role in the rightful execution of transnational education on internationalization. The14 Letter of Intents ( LoIs)for setting up foreign universities in India is a strong move towards it, she added.
Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, Co-Chair, FICCI Higher Education Committee & Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education said that this year’s conference theme of ‘Higher Education in a Transforming World: Bridging Borders, Building Futures’, is very relevant and higher education must go beyond classes. “Combining AI and digital learning coupled with industry exposure, research collaboration and global mobility, will be the new order of global higher education," he added.
During the event, 11th FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards were announced along with the release of ‘FICCI-EY Parthenon Knowledge Report ‘Future-Ready Campuses: Unlocking the Power of AI in Higher Education’, There were 15 Institutional Awards and 3 individual winners, viz Personality of the Year 2025- Prof (Dr) Ram Gopal Rao, Group VC, BITS Pilani; Lifetime Achievement Award - Mr Shiv Nadar, Chairman Emeritus, HCLTech, Founder & Chairman - Shiv Nadar Foundation; Legendary Institution Builder-Dr Prof. (Dr.) S B Mujumdar, Founder & President, Symbiosis and Chancellor, Symbiosis International University.