The government is taking a number of initiatives — including providing financial assistance — to take Indian institutes such as IITs, NITs, IISERs to top 100 global institutes of higher learning, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Satya Pal Singh said on Monday.

“The MHRD has launched Revitalizing Infrastructure Systems in Education (RISE), which aims to provide financial assistance up to INR 1 lakh crore over a period of 4 years to IITs, NITs, IISERs,” the minister said.

While addressing the 6th Convocation of IIT Bhubaneswar, the minister said that institutes such as IITs should find their place in the top 100 global institutes of higher learning.

“This issue needs multiple attention like international students and faculties presence in Indian institutes, research and innovation at par with the best institutes in the world, physical facilities second to none etc,” he highlighted.

Congratulating the 295 graduating students, and their parents and teachers, the minister said the country is counting on these bright young minds to help in the nation building for a New India as envisioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“India is on the threshold of fourth industrial revolution which will be ushered in by advancements in Robotics, Virtual reality, Cloud technology, Big data, Artificial intelligence and other technologies,” he said.

The minister appreciated the research work undertaken in IIT Bhubaneswar on a wide range of topics from fundamentals to applied areas of immense importance, specifically utilization of industrial waste for developing environmental friendly geo-polymer concrete using red mud and fly ash, which could be useful in making eco-friendly buildings, bridges, roads and other long-lasting physical assets.