Jammu, Apr 19 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India has the wealth of knowledge to lead the world in the 21st century.

Addressing the fifth convocation of the Mata Vaishno Devi University in Katra town of Reasi district, Modi said, "India is a country of 800 million strong population of youths below 30 years of age and this is a wealth pool equalled by no other country in the world."

"Knowledge is the driving force of the 21st century and India has enough wealth of knowledge to lead the world."

Modi said while universities elsewhere in the country and across the globe are run by tax payer's money or by donations, the Mata Vaishno Devi University is the only university in the world that is run by humble devotional offerings often as meagre as one rupee made by devotees who visit the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

Modi told scholars who were warded their doctoral and other degrees at the convocation, "Your loyalty in life has to be towards the poorest of the poor in the country, whose devotion has made it possible for you to achieve your degrees and honours today".

He told the scholars not to forget the hardships edured by their parents to make their dreams possible.

"When children are born, parents get immense joy, but when children achieve in life, the joy of patents becomes boundless," he said.

"Now it is for you to decide where you go from here."

Modi arrived in Jammu earlier in the day on a day-long visit.