IIT Madras coming up with the online degree program in Programming and Data Sciences is a major step towards the Prime Minister's call towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat, said the Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'. The minister launched the program through video conferencing on Thursday. "Congratulations to IIT Madras for launching the world's first online BSc Degree in Programming and Data Science. This is a one-of-its-kind program. This is the need of the hour," said Pokhriyal.

Congratulating the IIT Madras Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi, he added, "The IITM team always comes up with something innovative. IIT Madras has the capability of making the ordinary extraordinary. I am happy that amid the pandemic, while people are staying at home, our IIT professors and students have come up with something so unique and innovative," he says, adding that the IITs across the country have also worked on developing ventilators, PPE kits and COVID testing in a short span.

"Our IITs have donated great talents to the world and have shown the right path to many companies and initiatives across the world. We are leading the way to make our country self-reliant, strong and prosperous," he says. "This was a time when we were compelled to go online. But our institutions took it up as a challenge. We have people who can lead us in the right direction. We have no lack of vision in our country," he adds. The program was also congratulated by the Minister of State, HRD, Sanjay Dhotre, who co-launched the initiative.