The 4th convocation ceremony of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Anantapur, was held on Thursday amid much gaiety at the administrative building of JNTU-A, conferring doctorate degrees on more than 14,000 scholars.

Renowned scientist and Vice-Chancellor of the Defence Institute of Advanced technology (DIAT), Dr Prahlada, who was the chief guest at the ceremony, was conferred an honorary doctorate for his meritorious service as a senior scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), developing key technologies for the country.zSpeaking on the occasion, Dr Prahlada stressed the need for fundamental research in universities even as he expressed concern over the drastic fall in the quality of training in universities.

Maintaining that technology had a major role in all walks of life right from the kitchen to the defence sector, he exhorted students to consider taking up research as a career option.

As many as 13,942 undergraduate degrees, 1,844 post-graduate degrees and 50 P.hD research scholarships were conferred by the chief guest in the presence of JNTU-A Vice-Chancellor Prof K Lal Kishore. Mr. Kishore presented the university status report on the occasion, enlisting the steps being taken to ensure quality in technical training. He said that a few changes in the curriculum were made in the M.Pharmacy course offered by the university, besides an entrance examination as part of the pre-P.hD examination.