Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that with the spirit of nation-first, youth will be the torchbearers of a self-reliant India of the 21st- century. Pradhan delivered this statement while inaugurating the Pushpagiri Lecture Hall Complex and Rishikulya Hall of Residence at IIT Bhubaneswar today. Addressing the participants, the Minister said that the Government has taken various steps to provide opportunities to our youth by supporting higher education institutions in all possible ways. On this occasion, an MOU was also signed by Prof. R.V. Raja Kumar, Director, IIT Bhubaneswar and Shri Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Chairman, Skill Development Institute Bhubaneswar in the presence of the Union Minister Pradhan expressed his immense pleasure in inaugurating the largest lecture complex and hostel in the State of Odisha and hoped that the added infrastructure facilities will enable the students to strive for greater excellence. The Minister that with focus on quality research and innovation, IITs have become the symbol of the progress of India and success in higher education. He complimented the IIT Bhubaneswar for its teaching excellence and quality education. Pradhan said that the collaboration between IIT and SDI will help to address the local issues and environmental issues in a disaster-prone state like Odisha and thereby acting as a role model for the entire nation. Gujrat govt cancels COVID vaccination on August 22 for Raksha Bandhan Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches distribution of smart health cards Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan among others extend Onam greetings to Keratitis