India today has the largest youth population in the world. This demographic dividend can be a boon—if we prepare it according to the skills, abilities, and modern needs. But unfortunately, our higher education system is facing a deep crisis today. The gap between what is being taught in universities and what the industries need is constantly widening. This gap is not only hampering the employability of students but is also seriously hampering India’s economic progress and global competitiveness.
The reality of employment and the mismatch between education
According to the India Skills Report 2024, only 45.9% of graduates in India were found employable. This means that one in every two students who have received higher education is not equipped with employable skills. The situation of technical institutes is also dismal. According to a NASSCOM report, only 25% of engineering graduates were found fit for work in the IT sector. This situation is not only a failure of the education system but also a tragedy of the shattering of dreams of crores of youth of the country. The root of this problem is an education system with a theoretical and academic approach, which is disconnected from the needs of the practical world. The curriculum of universities is decades old, which does not match the needs of today’s data-driven, artificial intelligence-driven, innovation-led industry.
Changing industry, unchanged curriculum
Jobs today are not the same as before. Fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, blockchain, cybersecurity, and green technology are growing rapidly. But the curriculum is not changing to suit these emerging fields. For example, IIT Hyderabad has started a B.Tech program in artificial intelligence—a visionary step. But most universities still rely on outdated textbooks and lectures. This situation is not just of technical courses. Students in commerce, humanities, sociology, media, law, and other subjects are also not being equipped with future needs. As a result, they are neither job-ready nor able to think in the direction of innovation or entrepreneurship.
The road to a solution: aligning curriculum and profession
The solution to this crisis cannot be just one-way. For this policy, institutions and industry—all three—will have to come together. The curriculum should be revised every 2-3 years with the help of industry experts. It should be ensured that the content remains relevant over time. Teachers should be given internships or exposure in industries so that they can teach students in accordance with the current scenario. All universities should include industry internships, live projects, and case study-based assessments in their curriculum. Integration of technical and human subjects: Not only technical skills but also elements like soft skills, communication skills, teamwork, empathy, and leadership should be developed. Companies should work with universities to set up research labs, innovation hubs, and startup incubation centers—as exemplified by the Research Park of IIT Madras.
International examples
and inspiration
India needs to understand that complete development is not possible through technical education alone. We should learn from global models. Germany’s “Dual Education System” is a great example, where a combination of theory and practice prepares students for the industry. Similarly, in the US, community colleges and startup accelerators connect education with industry. In countries like Singapore, skill review is done every three years, and education is run in collaboration with the industry. India also needs to adopt a similar “Dynamic Curriculum Framework.”
Challenges and precautions
However, taking steps in this direction has its own dangers. If we limit education only to the needs of the industry, we will prepare only employees, not citizens of the future. This can be a dangerous trend. Excessive professionalism can blunt the creativity and ethical thinking of students. If subjects like literature, philosophy, and sociology are ignored as ‘non-useful,’ then education will deviate from its original purpose.
Frequent changes in curriculum, technological upgrades, and industry collaboration could prove costly for universities, restricting access for rural and underprivileged sections.
The need for a national approach
The Government of India has launched schemes like ‘Skill India,’ ‘Digital India,’ ‘Make in India,’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ The success of these campaigns is possible only when the higher education system produces skilled, inclusive, and entrepreneurial human resources. This will happen only when the strategy of linking university education to the needs of the industry becomes a national priority. The National Education Policy 2020 has given some positive signals in this direction, such as flexibility, a multidisciplinary approach, and skill-based education. But to fully implement these reforms at the ground level, political will, financial investment, and institutional coordination are needed.
Education is not just a profession, but it is incomplete without profession.
If India dreams of becoming a developed nation by 2047, we must prepare our universities for global competition. This means aligning the education system with the needs of the industry in a way that it prepares students not just for jobs but also for innovation, entrepreneurship, and social leadership. This alignment should not be limited to just technical training. It must also include values such as ethics, empathy, dialogue, and responsibility. Only then will we be able to build an India that is not just economically prosperous but also intellectually capable, socially inclusive, and culturally empowered.
The writer is a Poet, freelance journalist and columnist, radio and TV panelist
