Why are vast numbers of India’s engineers and MBAs not employable? Social stigma, perceived low value of vocational training and our obsession with traditional education have paid a heavy price. India is one of the youngest nations in the world with over 62 percent of its one billion plus population in the age group of 15-59 years, and over 54 percent of its total population below the age of 25. With 15 million youth entering the workforce every year, over 75 percent are not job-ready. These are staggering numbers and the alarm bells have been ringing for a while prompting the government to take notice and introduce several schemes to boost apprenticeships and hands-on training as key skills gap fillers. However, uptake of the government’s various offerings has often been called lackadaisical owing to low awareness and uncoordinated efforts between schemes. What are some of the solutions from an education, technology and industry perspective if India is to reach its lofty ambition of skilling 5 million individuals by 2022? What government offerings in skills and apprenticeship training do youth and industry have access to? Find out here.
