199 students awarded degrees in the 64th Convocation of International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai

: Mumbai, May 6, 2023

The sixty-fourth convocation of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Deemed to be University, Mumbai was held today (May 6^th, 2023). This year, in total, 199 students are awarded degrees/diplomas. Excellence in research and academic work of students was also appreciated, and they were awarded with gold and silver medals for their achievements.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Health Research & Director General, ICMR, presided over the function. In his presidential speech, while congratulating the students receiving degrees, diplomas, and medals, appealed to them to continue learning and emphasized on the importance of giving back to society and nation. He applauded the contribution of IIPS in training population scientists, and in producing high-quality data through surveys, such as National Family Health Survey and Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. He pointed out the development India has achieved in terms of addressing challenges such as managing Covid-19, and appreciated the country’s achieving the below-replacement level fertility. He urged the students and researchers to work towards the nation-building.

Dr. Indu Bhushan, Ex-CEO, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and The National Health Authority, Government of India, Chief Guest at the function, delivered the convocation address. He appreciated the role of IIPS in imparting high-quality education in the field of population while congratulating the students who received their degrees/diplomas. Dr. Bhushan talked about seven major areas on which the demographers/population scientist should be focusing, for the country’s development, namely; (i) reaping the benefit of demographic dividend by skill development, (ii) supporting ageing population (iii) addressing migration and urbanization (iv) tackling the challenges of climate change (v) ensuring gender equality (vi) producing relevant and contextual data of high quality and (vii) acquainting the frontiers of technological advancements. He advised the students to be responsible citizens and to never leave their curiosity to learn.

Prof. K S James, Director of IIPS, presented the Director’s report consisting of activities and achievements of the Institute for the academic year 2022-23. Institute offers four regular programmes – Ph.D., MPS, MSc in Biostatistics and Demography, and MA/MSc in Population Studies, two master’s programmes through distance learning and two diploma courses of the National Institute of Public Health Training and Research, Mumbai.