Indian Aspirations

India aspires to become the world’s third-largest economy in the next five years. With its substantial young population and wealth of professional skills, the country has positioned itself for significant economic growth. In the fiscal year 2021–22, India achieved a historic milestone by attracting the highest-ever foreign inward remittances, totalling US$ 89,127 million. These remittances represent a portion of the earnings of the large Indian workforce employed abroad. This is evidence of the economic value of human resources working abroad.

India is making strides in the global start-up landscape, ranking as the fourth-largest start-up hub. The desire to be self-employed and experience the freedom to pursue individual dreams resonates strongly in the hearts and minds of the youth in India. To fulfil this vision, there is a growing emphasis on becoming a technopreneur, necessitating a solid foundation in technological knowledge as a primary requirement.

The shift in mindset and career goals challenges the existing higher education system and learning institutions to adapt and meet the demand for education that imparts the highest level of skills necessary to independently thrive in the evolving knowledge economy.

Gateway for Engineering Excellence

The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) network has recently concluded its latest round of admissions for undergraduate engineering courses. Achieving an impressive attendance of nearly ninety-six per cent, the second round of the IIT entrance test saw participation from over eleven lakhs (1.1 million) of engineering aspirants. Most of these aspirants come from the unorganised coaching industry, which prepares students to excel in the entrance tests and secure the highest possible rank.

Over the past few decades, coaching classes have burgeoned into a formidable industry, now exceeding ten thousand crores (USD 1.25 billion) in revenue. This substantial revenue figure represents the tangible cost of harbouring the dream of becoming an engineer from the prestigious IITs.

The enduring legacy of the British-imposed education system in India persists till today. The lack of substantial reforms in the education system underscores the influence of historical paradigms on Indian decision-makers, who perhaps have been unable to break free from conventional thinking.

Each year, over ten million students successfully pass the ten-plus-two exams administered by various boards across India. However, the subsequent challenge lies in securing admission to undergraduate courses of their preference.

This bottleneck highlights a significant disparity between the demand for quality education and the limited availability of institutions that meet this demand. Consequently, countless promising young individuals—constituting invaluable human resources for the nation—grapple with the daunting task of realising their aspirations to become engineers or doctors. The mismatch between educational demand and institutional capacity has regrettably become a formidable impediment, thwarting the dreams of millions.

The Sacrificed Childhood

As early as after completing standard eight, children start preparing for admission to premier institutions, for which they intend to appear four years later. The crucial decision to pursue a career in engineering or medicine is often influenced significantly by parental aspirations.

Unfortunately, this journey is marked by a burdensome load of studies coupled with rigorous preparation for entrance examinations, leaving students with little room for sports and other recreational activities. It affects overall development and, in particular, mental health—which is often no one’s concern.

Strangely, scores and success in entrance tests are considered more important than the mental condition of candidates. The pressure to perform in a hyper-competitive environment often leads to lifelong agony rather than fulfilment.

The education system’s emphasis on rote learning further exacerbates this strain, hindering genuine comprehension and suppressing a true love for learning. The ultimate goal becomes clearing the 10+2 exams, a pivotal eligibility criterion for admission to coveted undergraduate institutions.

The relentless toil of young aspirants translates into a national loss of potential and human capital. The coaching industry thrives with over a billion US dollars in annual revenue, almost no regulation, and zero recession—while society bears an immeasurable cost by virtually handing over children to coaching institutions for exam success.

Relentless Sufferings

Beyond economic metrics, the issue extends into the deeply human domain of mental health. The intense academic pressure imposed on young minds has profound consequences. In a country where mental health remains a social taboo and is often underreported, the alarming rise in student suicides in premier institutions serves as a grim indicator.

According to a July 2023 media report, 98 students took their own lives in IITs, NITs, CUs, IIMs, and IISERs over five years. These tragic incidents only scratch the surface of a much broader crisis.

A family is the basic unit of a country’s aspiration. Aspiring to become an engineer and committing suicide in the process are starkly contradictory outcomes. The loss of a young life brings immeasurable pain to families and an irreversible loss to the nation. In the world’s most populous country, such tragedies rarely trigger systemic correction.

As India aims to become the world’s third-largest economy, nurturing the aspirations and well-being of its youth must be recognised as a central challenge—not a side concern.

The Challenge

The present entrance tests for IITs and other professional courses function more as rejection tests rather than selection tests.

Imagine a scenario where over twelve lakh aspiring students secure admission into their preferred engineering branches at IITs. In such a vision, these aspirants would shape meaningful lives—whether or not they ultimately graduate as engineers—without sacrificing childhood.

In this scenario, IITs would become true crucibles of professional excellence, strengthening India’s technical reservoir and preparing the nation to harness emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI). Such a knowledge infusion could position India as a global AI leader.

Knowledge is not merely a commodity—it is an empowerment tool. Strengthening access to higher education would uplift individuals and reinforce the nation’s collective strength.

Addressing the demand for higher education is both viable and transformative. The knowledge economy has evolved beyond physical institutional constraints. Notably, Ivy League universities

now offer accessible online programs, signalling a global shift toward inclusive education.

In 2023 alone, around 850,000 Indian students secured admissions abroad

. Indian parents are projected to spend nearly US$ 34 billion annually on foreign education—representing a massive outflow of resources that could be reinvested domestically.

It is time to rebuild India’s institutions of learning to truly become a superpower.

Conclusion

By redirecting a portion of these financial resources into domestic education, India could strengthen its educational ecosystem to meet rising aspirations. This approach not only addresses current deficits but also lays the foundation for a self-sufficient and resilient framework for national growth.

As a democracy, the people of India shape the nation’s destiny. At the heart of this vision lies the family—the fundamental unit of society. The late Sri JRD Tata envisioned

a joyful India where happiness transcends economics and is rooted in family well-being.

No family should endure the tragedy of losing a child to academic pressure or fear of failure. Society must relieve children of the undue burden to excel at all costs.

True progress lies in fostering mental and physical well-being alongside economic growth. As India strives for global economic stature, let this pursuit be harmonised with happiness, dignity, and human potential. The true strength of India lies in its people—it is time to empower them to thrive in their own unique elements.