Core Demand of the Question
- Highlight the initiatives taken by the government to improve employability among graduates.
- Analyze the multidimensional challenges in aligning education with employment, innovation, and economic growth.
- Suggest comprehensive reforms for the way forward.
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Answer
Despite reforms like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, India’s higher education system struggles to improve graduate employability, which stands at 42.6% in 2025 (India Graduate Skills Report), reflecting a persistent mismatch between education outcomes and labour market demands despite growing state interventions.
Government Initiatives to Improve Employability
- Skill India Mission: Aims to train youth in industry-relevant skills across sectors.
Example: According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2023), over 1.60 crore candidates have been trained under PMKVY since its launch.
- National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): Promotes work-based learning by subsidizing apprentice stipends.
Example: As per the Apprenticeship India Portal (2024), over 9 lakh apprentices have been enrolled since the scheme’s launch.
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Encourages creativity and hands-on learning through tinkering labs.
Example: NITI Aayog (2024) reports that 10,000+ Atal Tinkering Labs have been established across Indian schools.
- SWAYAM Platform: Offers free online courses to bridge skill and knowledge gaps.
- AICTE’s Employability Enhancement Training Programme (EETP): Partners with tech firms for practical training.
Multidimensional Challenges in Aligning Education with Employment
- Curriculum-Industry Mismatch: Outdated course content fails to reflect industry needs.
Example: India Skills Report (2024) shows that only 11.72% of graduates are in knowledge-intensive employment.
- Quality Dilution under NEP: Multiple exit options have reduced academic depth and job relevance.
- Low Research-Industry Integration: Academia lacks applied innovation impact.
Example: Despite investments, India’s GII rank is 39 (WIPO Global Innovation Index 2024), behind Malaysia (33) and Turkey (37).
- Outdated UGC Framework: Centralized UGC control stifles modern, contextual reforms.
- Limited Internship Access: Few students receive real workplace exposure
Comprehensive Reforms – The Way Forward
- Decentralise Curriculum Design: Universities should be empowered to tailor courses to local and sectoral needs.
Example: Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (2024) offers hybrid industry-academic programs in logistics and fintech.
- Replace UGC with Outcome-Based Regulator: Create independent bodies focused on employability metrics.
Example: The proposed National Higher Education Regulatory Council under NEP remains unimplemented.
- Mainstream Apprenticeship within Degrees: Mandate embedded vocational learning models.
Example: Germany’s Dual System, ensures student apprentices split time between classroom and industry.
- Incentivise Indigenous Tech-Based Start-ups: Promote science-based entrepreneurship within academia.
- Conduct Institutional Employability Audits: Regular public evaluations of graduate outcomes.
Example: Tamil Nadu Government’s Ranking Framework (2024) ranks colleges based on actual placement and internship records.
India’s employability gap stems from deep-rooted structural flaws—rigid curricula, regulatory inertia, and weak practical exposure. Transforming education into a driver of innovation and employment demands urgent decentralisation, audit-based accountability, and industry-linked learning ecosystems for long-term national growth.
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