Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Ask questions: PM Modi's mantra for IIT Delhi graduates
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited a big university called IIT Delhi.
He spoke at their graduation ceremony.
He told the new graduates to keep asking questions.
He said they should be curious about the world.
He explained that school has a list of things to learn, but life does not.
In life, he said, everyone must find their own questions.
He also told them not to compare their jobs or money with friends.
He said life is not a leaderboard.
He spoke for about 40 minutes.
Most students got their certificates from other people after he left.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the IIT Delhi convocation, his first face-to-face interaction with students since the Jantar Mantar protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party.
He advised graduates to keep their curiosity alive and question things that are often accepted without a second thought.
Modi said 'everything is out of syllabus' in life and urged graduates to identify the real questions themselves.
He personally handed medals and certificates to just nine students, while more than 3,000 others received degrees from other guests after he left.
He told graduates not to compare salaries, placements or startup milestones with peers, saying 'life is not a leaderboard.'
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and IIT Delhi graduates, including 19-year-old Anish Tanwar (youngest) and 74-year-old PhD student Chandra Shekhar Prasad (oldest)
- What
- Modi delivered the convocation address, urging graduates to stay curious, question accepted ideas, and avoid comparing themselves with peers
- When
- On Saturday; Modi arrived around 11am and left around 12.30pm
- Where
- At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi convocation
- Why
- To motivate graduates and deliver his first face-to-face message to students since the Jantar Mantar protests rattled his government
- Event
- IIT Delhi Convocation
- Chief Speaker
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Speech Duration
- About 40 minutes
- Students Handed Medals by PM
- 9 students
- Students Receiving Degrees from Others
- More than 3,000
- Youngest Graduate
- Anish Tanwar, 19 (BTech civil engineering)
- Oldest Graduate
- Chandra Shekhar Prasad, 74 (PhD)
- Context
- First student interaction since the Jantar Mantar protests