Felicitated by President Droupadi Murmu for work on Artificial Intelligence under the Government of India's SOAR initiative

Completing Microsoft's "AI to be Aware" program under the Government of India's SOAR Initiative culminated in one of the most memorable experiences of my academic journey. I was selected as one of only 17 students nationwide to be felicitated by the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan for my work in Artificial Intelligence.

The ceremony brought together distinguished guests, including Members of Parliament and Union Ministers from the Ministries of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. During her address, the President spoke about the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in India's future, emphasizing the responsibility of young innovators to apply technology in service of society and national development.

Following the felicitation, I had the opportunity to briefly interact with the President and later met Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, discussing the role of Artificial Intelligence in advancing skill development across India.

Being recognized at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the President of India was both a tremendous honor and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with pursuing research and innovation in emerging technologies. It reinforced my commitment to contributing to AI not only as a technical discipline, but also as a field with profound implications for public policy, society, and economic development.