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The role of Andhra University in the development of defence technologies is going to be crucial, as it is one of the well-known and well-respected institutes of higher learning in the country, President Ram Nath Kovind has said.
He was speaking in the university on Thursday evening after inaugurating the Centre for Defence Studies set up at a cost of Rs 60 crores from the Ministry of Defence. The first of its kind in the country in a public university, the centre will cater to the educational and research needs of the defence sector.
The President said it was his first visit to the city after assuming charge as the President, and earlier he had visited the university once. "The former President of the Republic, Dr S Radhakrishnan, served in the university as the Vice-chancellor and the present Vice-President, M Venkaiah Naidu, studied here. Some of the most outstanding intellectuals come from here," he said.
He said the establishment of the Centre for Defence Studies would give a great boost to R&D in the field, nano technology and other cutting-edge technologies. The Make-in-India programme would also get a shot in the arm. "Defence technologies usually have multiple applications and multiple benefits in different fields and the centre will play a key role," he said.
The President also complimented the Andhra Pradesh Government for "its efforts to make use of technologies, especially IT, for achieving economic growth and promoting welfare of people."
He noted that 40 per cent of the students in the university were girls and he exhorted them to take the lead in the fields of science and technology. He said women were playing a key role in missile development in the country.
Earlier, the President participated in the foundation stone laying ceremonies for construction of e-class rooms and an incubation centre in the university.
The President earlier also inaugurated TU 142 aircraft museum on the beach road here. The decommissioned defence aircraft has been installed on the beach road as a major tourist attraction in the city. There is already a submarine museum in the city.
In all the programmes, the President was accompanied by State Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa and Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju.
The President would leaver for New Delhi on Friday afternoon, after participating in some more programmes in the morning.
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