Andhra Pradesh governor and chancellor S Abdul Nazeer commended Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) for achieving the Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RTPO) status from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to provide drone pilot training. Speaking at the combined 63rd to 68th convocations held at SVU in Tirupati on Wednesday, the governor expressed delight over the university establishing numerous Centres of Excellence in emerging fields such as micro and nano satellite technologies, earth science and atmospheric research, material science and nanotechnology, virus-like particle technologies, herbal drug research, psychological and biological sciences, water resources management, and bio-energy innovation.
Call for Rural Development
Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific adviser to the Government of India, urged educated youth to apply their knowledge for meaningful social development by reaching out to rural and underserved communities. Emphasizing rural development, he explained how the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) has made 62 field-tested technologies developed by seven IITs accessible to 752 NGOs, with the ongoing second phase focusing on commercialization. Sood advised students to delve into IoT-enabled agricultural tools, digital platforms for financial inclusion, robotics, smart manufacturing, and logistics through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Honorary Doctorates Conferred
The chancellor awarded honorary doctorates to Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Indian National Science Academy president Dr Shekhar C Mande, Bharat Biotech International Limited Executive Chairman Dr Krishna M. Ella, and Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) chairman Dollars Divakar Reddy during the ceremony. A total of 12,141 students received degrees, and 502 meritorious students were presented with gold medals.
University Achievements Highlighted
Vice-chancellor Prof Tata Narasinga Rao, in his annual report, noted that the university had undertaken 2,710 consultancy and industry assignments, generating revenue of Rs 399 lakh, and had signed collaborations with reputed institutions. Registrar Prof M Bhupathi Naidu and thousands of students participated in the event.
