Phillips Education, under the leadership of Rakshit Kejriwal, is steering conversations on how India can close its skills gap to achieve the ambitious Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Recently, the organisation hosted The G.R.O.W.T.H. Dialogue at Taj Lands’ End, Mumbai, bringing together policymakers, academicians, industry leaders, and CSR partners to deliberate on building a future-ready workforce. With sectors like aerospace, defence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence growing rapidly, the demand for a highly skilled workforce has never been more urgent.
I find this development crucial because India is at a turning point in its growth story. The World Economic Forum has predicted that nearly 44% of today’s skills will be obsolete by 2030, while sectors like aerospace and defence alone will require lakhs of skilled professionals. Without skilling, India’s demographic dividend may turn into a burden rather than a boon.
By aligning training with real industry needs, initiatives like this dialogue go beyond conferences—they act as platforms for shaping actionable roadmaps. The emphasis on a National Skilling Coalition, proposed by Kejriwal, shows a forward-looking approach where government, academia, and industry can work hand-in-hand to prepare India’s youth for tomorrow’s challenges.
India’s urgent skilling challenge
- India aims for a $64 billion semiconductor market by 2026.
- The aerospace and defence sector is projected to touch $70 billion by 2030.
- Renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 500 GW by 2030.
- McKinsey estimates that effective skilling can add $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2030.
Key highlights from the G.R.O.W.T.H. Dialogue
- Saurabh Bahuguna, Uttarakhand’s Minister for Skill Development & Employment, stressed the importance of linking education with employment opportunities.
- Rakshit Kejriwal, Global President of Phillips Education, highlighted that “if infrastructure builds nations, skills build civilizations.”
- Over 40 senior leaders from diverse sectors joined hands to design collaborative pathways.
- A call was made to form a National Skilling Coalition that integrates government, CSR, academia, and industry.
Why this matters for India’s youth
For young Indians, these discussions are more than policy—this is about opportunity. With automation changing industries, students cannot rely on degrees alone. They need competency-based learning, digital training, and vocational pathways to remain relevant in a global job market.
