New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): Students need to fall in love with what they do, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Tuesday.

"Perhaps most important of all, is you (students) have to fall in love with what you do. Because everything else then simply becomes easy," Nadella said in an address to 35,000 students from across the country during his maiden visit to the country after becoming Microsoft CEO.

"It is just fantastic to be talking to the youth of this India. The energy is palpable, the optimism is palpable, and the confidence is here to be seen. I have had the chance to meet many people in India broadly, I have been able to get that sense," he said.

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani was also present at the event Talent India 2014.

The Hyderabad-born Nadella, who studied engineering at Manipal University before moving to the US, noted that "in the long run EQ trumps IQ".

"If you look at what is happening today in India, look at the business model innovation, look at the designs that are made for this country, and at the same time, the engineering skills, it's that coming together. That multi-disciplinary approach to innovation which is what I believe all of you represent, is perhaps going to shape and change what you will do and what you will create," he added.