Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda urged graduating students to dedicate their knowledge and skills to the service of society while addressing the convocation ceremony of Teerthanker Mahaveer University in Moradabad on Saturday.
Congratulating the graduating students, J P Nadda described the convocation as a defining milestone that reflects years of dedication, perseverance, discipline and academic commitment. He said the ceremony marks not only the completion of an academic journey but also the beginning of a new phase of responsibility and service.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Health Minister said that students entering the professional world during the second phase of India’s Amrit Kaal carry both opportunity and responsibility as the country moves towards the vision of a developed India by 2047.
He emphasised that young professionals have an important role in shaping the future of the nation and urged them to move forward with strong values and a commitment to contribute meaningfully to society.
Appreciating the efforts of Teerthanker Mahaveer University, J P Nadda highlighted the institution’s contribution to medical and allied health education. He noted that out of nearly 150 academic programmes offered by the university, about 60 percent are related to medical and allied health disciplines, reflecting its strong focus on building a skilled healthcare workforce.
He also acknowledged the university’s efforts to expand access to education by providing scholarships worth around 75 crore rupees to students from diverse backgrounds. Such initiatives, he said, promote inclusive education and help develop skilled professionals capable of contributing to India’s growing healthcare sector.
Highlighting developments in the healthcare sector, the Union Health Minister said India has witnessed major expansion in healthcare infrastructure, medical education and access to affordable treatment over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said the number of All India Institute of Medical Sciences institutions in the country has increased from six earlier to twenty three, significantly strengthening tertiary healthcare services as well as opportunities for advanced medical education and research.
J P Nadda noted that India has achieved substantial progress in improving maternal and child health indicators. According to global estimates, India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined by about 86 percent compared with a global reduction of around 48 percent.
Referring to India’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis, he said the country has recorded a 21 percent decline in TB incidence, surpassing the global decline of 12 percent reported by the World Health Organization.
He also highlighted the government’s initiatives to reduce the financial burden of healthcare on citizens. Out of pocket expenditure on healthcare has declined significantly from 62.6 percent to 39.4 percent, reflecting the government’s commitment to making healthcare more affordable.
Citing findings from The Lancet, J P Nadda said around 90 percent of cancer patients in India begin treatment within twenty days, indicating improvements in early diagnosis and treatment pathways.
He also referred to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, describing it as the world’s largest health coverage scheme. The programme provides health coverage of up to five lakh rupees per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation and has benefited more than 71 crore people by expanding financial protection in healthcare.
Addressing the students, the Union Health Minister reminded them that their academic achievements are the result of the combined efforts of parents, teachers, mentors and institutions.
He urged graduates to carry a strong sense of social responsibility in their professional journeys and to remember that society has played a vital role in providing them the opportunities and resources to succeed.
A total of 6,041 students from undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and diploma programmes across the university’s 14 constituent colleges received degrees at the convocation ceremony.
Of these, 2,577 degrees were awarded for the 2023 to 2024 academic session and 3,464 degrees for the 2024 to 2025 academic session.
For the 2024 to 2025 session, the university conferred 3,464 degrees including 36 PhD degrees comprising 19 women and 17 men, 832 postgraduate degrees, 2,490 undergraduate degrees and 106 diploma certificates.
The convocation also recorded strong academic performance by women students. In the 2024 to 2025 academic session, out of 156 medal recipients, 112 were girls and 44 were boys.
Medal distribution for the 2024 to 2025 academic session
• Gold Medals 54 including 40 girls and 14 boys
• Silver Medals 52 including 35 girls and 17 boys
• Bronze Medals 50 including 37 girls and 13 boys
Similarly, the 2023 to 2024 academic session recorded 155 medal recipients including 103 girls and 52 boys.
The ceremony was attended by Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Suresh Kumar Khanna, Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with the leadership and professors of Teerthanker Mahaveer University.
