President Droupadi Murmu, the Visitor of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), was Chief Guest at the institute's Combined Convocation 2026 in New Delhi on 31 August 2026. In all, 3,793 undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students from 18 NIFT campuses graduated. NIFT is under the Ministry of Textiles.
In her address, the President asked graduates to combine a global reach with grounding in Indian craft, and to keep sustainability and support for artisans at the centre of their work.
NIFT Director General Tanu Kashyap administered the pledge to the graduating students and symbolically conferred degrees on the batch. The President presented 10 Gold Medals to the Best Academic Performers, who represent NIFT's academic programmes across India. Awardees were selected on their CGPA and semester-wise SGPA. After the central ceremony, campus-wise degree distribution ceremonies were held so that graduates could receive their degrees with their own academic communities.
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh and Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao also attended. Singh urged students to dream big and work hard to become an integral driving force of Viksit Bharat. Rao asked them to pursue continuous learning and skill upgradation to seize the opportunities ahead.
Murmu said the textile and apparel sector is part of India's cultural heritage and also the backbone of the livelihoods of millions of people. If traditional artisans receive support and guidance, she said, their next generations will be encouraged to stay in the profession with pride and confidence.
She noted with satisfaction that several NIFT centres have run programmes such as the Craft Cluster Initiative, which acquaints weavers and artisans in their regions with modern techniques in the textile and apparel sector and connects them with markets.
The President said the country is expanding its role on the global stage with far greater confidence than before, and that fashion technology has immense potential to enhance India's global footprint. She urged graduates to seize this opportunity while keeping a global outlook and staying firmly connected to their roots and the core values of Indian culture. In doing so, she said, they would become successful professionals and also help preserve and enrich India's cultural heritage.
Murmu asked students to create world-class products and brands that are also eco-friendly. Using locally available raw materials, she said, would be a significant step towards environmental conservation. Remnants should not be discarded as waste but given a new form, utility and value.
She noted that NIFT's policymakers have given significant importance to sustainability and social responsibility in the institute's strategic plan. She expressed confidence that NIFT will take effective steps to make circular economy practices widespread and beneficial, in line with its efforts toward a sustainable future in the textile and apparel sector.
On Viksit Bharat 2047, the President said the youth will play a pivotal role in reaching the goal, and that the nation has high expectations of talented students from institutes like NIFT. She urged them to help build a society in which every citizen has a fair opportunity to take part in national progress. Their success, she said, lies in helping artisans enhance their productivity and income while preserving the authentic identity of their craft.
NIFT was founded in 1986 under the Ministry of Textiles and is a statutory institute governed by the NIFT Act, 2006. It has 20 campuses. Its environment brings together design, technology, craftsmanship, research, innovation and industry perspectives, and it combines contemporary learning with an appreciation of India's craft, cultural and design traditions. The graduates join a community of NIFT alumni working in fashion, textiles, design, technology, entrepreneurship, communication and allied creative fields.
With reference to the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The President urged NIFT graduates to use locally available raw materials in their products.
Statement-II: Using locally available raw materials would be a significant step towards environmental conservation.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
