J.P. Nadda urges graduates at Teerthanker Mahaveer University convocation to serve society during India’s Amrit Kaal
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda addressed the convocation ceremony of Teerthanker Mahaveer University in Moradabad on Saturday, urging graduating students to serve society with commitment during India’s Amrit Kaal and contribute to building a developed nation by 2047.
Congratulating the graduates, Nadda described the convocation as a defining milestone that reflects years of dedication, perseverance and academic discipline. He said the ceremony not only marks the completion of an academic journey but also signals the beginning of a new phase of responsibility and service.
Addressing the students, Nadda said they are entering the professional world during the second phase of Amrit Kaal and therefore carry both opportunity and responsibility in shaping the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
Highlighting developments in the healthcare sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Health Minister said India has witnessed a major expansion in healthcare infrastructure, medical education and access to affordable treatment over the past decade. He noted that the number of All India Institute of Medical Sciences institutions has increased from six to 23, strengthening tertiary healthcare services and creating more opportunities for quality medical education and research.
Nadda also pointed out that India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined by about 86 percent compared with a global reduction of around 48 percent, reflecting sustained public health interventions. He further stated that India has achieved a 21 percent reduction in tuberculosis incidence, surpassing the global decline of 12 percent reported by the World Health Organization.
Speaking about financial protection in healthcare, Nadda said out-of-pocket expenditure on medical treatment has fallen from 62.6 percent to 39.4 percent, reflecting government efforts to make healthcare more affordable. He also highlighted the impact of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which he described as the world’s largest health coverage scheme providing health insurance of up to ₹5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. According to him, the programme has expanded financial protection and benefited more than 71 crore people across the country. Citing findings published in The Lancet, he added that around 90 percent of cancer patients in India begin treatment within 20 days, reflecting improvements in early diagnosis and treatment pathways.
Nadda also praised the contribution of the university in advancing education in the medical and allied health sectors. He said that nearly 60 percent of the institution’s 150 academic programmes are related to medical and allied health disciplines, reflecting its focus on building a skilled healthcare workforce.
Nadda further noted that the university has provided scholarships worth around ₹75 crore to support students from diverse backgrounds, enabling wider access to higher education.
A total of 6,041 students received degrees during the convocation across undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and diploma programmes from the university’s 14 constituent colleges. Of these, 2,577 degrees correspond to the 2023–24 academic session while 3,464 relate to the 2024–25 session. The 2024–25 session recorded strong academic performance by female students, who secured a majority of the medals. Out of 156 medal recipients, 112 were girls and 44 were boys, including 54 gold medals, 52 silver medals and 50 bronze medals.
The ceremony was attended by Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Suresh Kumar Khanna, the state’s Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Affairs, along with university leadership, faculty members and other dignitaries.
