New Delhi :Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a conference, where Vice Chancellors and Directors of over 350 higher education institutions participated. In his address PM Modi said that in our ancient universities like Nalanda, Vikramshila and Takshashila both knowledge and innovation were equal given importance.

 PM Narendra Modi while addressing the Conference in Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi also talked about Innovation adding that it is very important because without it, life seems like a burden.

Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar and others also attended the event.

The 'Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence' was conducted by the Indira Gandhi national Open University (IGNOU) and the Research for Resurgence Foundation - a sister-concern of the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal.

Speaking about his govt initiatives, PM Modi said that current Government is focusing to invest in the field of education to improve the infrastructure of education. He added that RISE (Rivitalisation of Infrastructure Systems) has been introduced in education programmes and India aim to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022.

The theme of the conference focused on the challenges facing the Indian education system and to work out a plan for a pattern shift both in terms of achieving academic outcomes and also in regulation of education, the Ministry of Human Resource Development said.

"This conference is in continuation of the efforts being made by the Ministry for evolving an action plan for transformation of the higher education sector. The first among this was held in Delhi during Vice-Chancellors' Conference from July 26 to 28," the statement added.

Talking about Swami Vivekananda, PM Modi said he always stressed on wholesome education that makes us a 'human'.

PM Modi also remembered Dr. Ambedkar, Deen Dayal Upadhya and Ram Manohar Lohiya saying that they always emphasized on character-building over literacy.