Jammu, 17 February 2026: The Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Tuesday called for transforming the educational campuses to realise the vision of Developed India@2047.
He highlighted the need for creating technological ecosystems that continuously reinvent themselves, that refuse to become static or complacent and embrace change as opportunity.
“India’s ambition in the technology revolution must extend beyond participation. We must become leaders. Today, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are reshaping the trajectory of human civilization. The nations that master these technologies will write the rules for the coming century,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of a 48-hour national-level Hackathon under “Innovathon 1.0”. The Hackathon organised by Skill, Incubation, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SIIEDC), University of Jammu was aimed at promoting innovation, encouraging development of technology-driven solutions and strengthening entrepreneurial mindset.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that the youth of India today are not watching the future unfold from the sidelines but they are the architects, the builders, the designers of what comes next. He said the pathbreaking innovation and fresh ideas, cutting-edge research possesses the power to alter our nation’s destiny.
“Young generation must pursue transformative innovations because Developed India@2047 is not merely a slogan but represents a commitment- a promise made to ourselves and to future generations,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that our campuses have evolved beyond mere degree-granting institutions and they have transformed into factories of ideas, workshops of innovation where possibility takes tangible form.
He lauded the University of Jammu for its unique endeavour to bridge the gap between classroom theory and authentic learning, between abstract concepts and practical application through Innovathon 1.0. He said five thematic pillars of Innovathon 1.0-AI, Cyber-Physical Systems, Sustainability, Health-Tech, and Responsible Tourism represent the actual challenges and opportunities for India on its journey toward becoming a developed nation.
The Lieutenant Governor entrusted upon the educational institutions to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, fortify startup ecosystems, and close the chasm between prototypes and products, concepts and companies.
He stated that the skills that guaranteed employability just five years ago now fade into obsolescence.
“Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Synthetic Biology are no longer distant horizons—they define our present and evolving at fast speed.
Classrooms must pivot from passive learning to active creation. Forget asking students, “What do you know?”—the new imperative is, “What can you build?” Spotlights should shift from individual gold-medal brilliance to interdisciplinary teamwork,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the AI tools should not aim to replace human intelligence. He said that their purpose should be to augment it and amplify human capability.
“As cyber-physical systems and emerging technologies blur the boundaries between digital and physical worlds, we must build robust and secure solutions that genuinely improve ordinary people’s lives rather than merely dazzling technical audiences,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor urged youth and entrepreneurs to focus on priorities for tech-powered answers and zero in on pertinent concepts and transmute them into viable commercial tools that uplift society, key sectors, and national progress.
“Transform knowledge into creation, silos into synergy, and aspirations into achievements. Don’t just participate in the future but be ready to define it,” the Lieutenant Governor told the Youth.
Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu; Prof. Alka Sharma, Director SIIEDC; Prof Anil Gupta, Dr Jatinder Manhas, faculty members, and innovators, startup entrepreneurs in large number attended the valedictory ceremony.
