Innovation critical for human growth: PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphasised that Indian universities and higher educational institutions should give equal emphasis to innovation as they give to knowledge, as life would become a burden without innovations.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence’ organised by the ministry of human resource development. Mr Modi also emphasised the importance of character building over literacy and called for ‘wholesome’ education in the country.

“Knowledge and education are not restricted to books. The purpose of education is to enable balanced growth of every dimension of a human being which is not possible without innovation,” Mr Modi said.

“Innovation is very important because without it, life seems like a burden. In our ancient universities like Takshs-hila, Nalanda and Vikra-mashila, innovation was given emphasis along with knowledge. I insist that students should gi-ve knowledge in classro-oms of college, university but they also add them to the aspirations of the country,” he added.

Stressing upon the need for “interlinking” the institutions, Mr Modi said no country or person can live in isolation.