Talent shortage on the rise in India despite producing an increasing number of graduates: Dr. Shamika Ravi

Bengaluru

There’s a huge talent shortage in the country despite producing a large number of graduates, and this calls for urgent reforms in India’s higher education systems, insists Dr. Shamika Ravi, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

India is confronting a serious skill crisis even as industries struggle with manpower shortages. Graduate unemployment alongside industry shortage reflects a fundamental mismatch,” she said at Chanakya University’s foundation day celebrations in Bengaluru on November 17.

She urged universities to pivot away from degree-oriented education and move towards a practical, industry-relevant training system. She called upon institutions like Chanakya University to take lead in this shift, emphasising hands-on learning, real-world engagement and entrepreneurship.

The country faces structural weaknesses in the education-to-employment pipeline despite its strong economic growth, and this mismatch can potentially derail the country’s aspirations for Viksit Bharat 2047, she warned.

She highlighted the need to strengthen support systems for women scholars, noting that retention of women in higher education requires targeted institutional measures. Further, she urged universities to actively engage with urban and community challenges such as infrastructure, pollution and planning, arguing that higher education must directly contribute to national development goals.

“Among youth under 30, the most educated segment is nearly five times more likely to be unemployed than those with only school-level education,’’ Ms. Ravi highlighted.

She cited an industrial survey where companies hiring mid-management professionals from abroad due to a shortage of qualified Indian talent. Such examples, she argued, reveal a deep misalignment between higher education outputs and industry needs.

Wipro Chairperson Azim Premji, in a video link, said, “Universities are built for decades and centuries. I would urge all of you to think of not just the next 10 years, but the next 100.”

Aarin Capital Chairperson T. V. Mohandas Pai said, “India’s youth must be empowered to dream and achieve their potential, and universities must nurture ethical, culturally grounded leaders capable of driving social transformation.