The University of Hyderabad (UoH) (established in 1974) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, and the School of Management Studies (established in 1999) is celebrating its Silver Jubilee. Commemorating these momentous occasions; the university is organising a series of 25 distinguished lectures. The theme is: STRONG yet SUSTAINABLE: India’s march to the 3rd largest economy.

The Lecture # 2 in the University of Hyderabad Golden Jubilee & SMS Silver Jubilee Distinguished Lecture Series was delivered by Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman, Cyient on 26 March 2024 on campus. The talk was presided over by Prof. B J Rao, Vice Chancellor, UoH. Dr. Devesh Nigam, Registrar, UoH; Prof. Ghanshyam Krishna, Director – Institution of Eminence, UoH, faculty, students and officials attended.

In his lecture Dr. Reddy said, “From the 10th largest economy we have now become the 5th largest economy with a GDP growth rate of 7% in the last ten years. We may become the 3rd largest economy by 2027. India has a working population of 62.5% who can drive economic growth through increased productivity and consumption”.

Dr. Reddy further said, “The government has been implementing economic reforms to liberalize the economy, attract foreign investment, and spur growth, with initiatives such as “Make in India” “Start Up India” to boost manufacturing and job creation”. “However, we still face challenges like high levels of poverty, income inequality, sustainability as well as infrastructure deficit”, he added.

Elaborating further Dr. Reddy spoke on the steps that we need to take to boost the economy. They are:

  • Enhance quality of education and skill development in emerging technologies
  • Invest in R & D and innovation in technologies
  • Promoting diverse industries with emerging products
  • Entrepreneurship promotion
  • Digital transformation
  • Investment in infrastructure
  • Improve ease of doing business
  • Sustainable development

He further stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is outpacing the human workforce. He also spoke about the technology implementation and sectoral growth in Healthcare, Transportation, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Education and Services to take care of the plummeting costs across a host of technologies.

Finally, Dr. Reddy stressed on the following three things that we need to keep in mind to boost India’s economic growth and sustainability:

  1. Strengthening the quality of education to produce knowledgeable and skilled workers for a technology driven economy.
  2. Research and Development in fostering innovation and building “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
  3. Start-ups and Entrepreneurship in driving technological innovation and economic growth.

Dr. Reddy called upon the youngsters to ‘Work as hard as they can’, because it will help them to become smarter at work and life.

Prof. Mary Jessica, Dean, School of Management Studies gave the welcome while Dr. Punam Singh introduced the distinguished guest. Prof. Irala Lokananda Reddy, coordinator of the lecture series proposed the Vote of Thanks.