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India's engineering education framework presents a contradiction. On one side, it generates more than 1.5 million engineering graduates every year, positioning it among the top contributors of technical talent in the world. Conversely, the nation faces difficulties in transforming this great talent pool into a hub of creativity and business development. Even with such large numbers, India still lags behind in global innovation rankings, patent applications, and the development of new technology. A major issue is the job readiness of these graduates. The Mercer-Mettl India Graduate Skill Index 2025 states that just 42.6% of Indian graduates are deemed employable, a drop from 44.3% the year before. This drop reflects an increasing disconnect between what students learn and what industries need.
This challenge is made worse by the swift progress in artificial intelligence and automation. A recent study revealed that 67% of engineers recognize that their job functions are evolving due to AI, and 85% have begun to enhance their skills to stay current in this changing environment. The Government of India has taken many initiatives to simplify the patent application process and reduce the time it takes to grant patents. Many organizations, especially higher education institutions, have greatly benefited from these efforts. With the rising passion for entrepreneurship, India is likely to become a nation rich in patents in the future. Although there are more engineering graduates each year, India's performance in innovation metrics is still disappointing. In 2023, India stood at 6th place globally for patent applications, with 64,480 submissions. While this is an admirable figure, it falls short compared to China’s 122,450 applications in the same period.
Institutions like IIT Indore are making progress in this field. For the academic year 2024-25, IIT Indore saw a 112% rise in patent applications, totaling 215 patents, of which 102 were granted, including international ones from the United States and China. The innovations mainly focused on healthcare, energy, defense, and aerospace. At IIT Indore, we believe that innovation is essential for building our nation. The impressive spike in patent applications is more than just a number—it reflects our strong commitment to deep technology development and support for entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, challenges in the system remain. The existing engineering education system frequently prioritizes memorization over critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. This method restricts students’ capacity to innovate and adapt to the fast-evolving world of technology.
The difference in skill levels makes IT firms invest extra time in training new employees before they start working, leading to high expenses. Additionally, the absence of a unified plan to connect education with the job market worsens the issue. A lot of graduates end up in jobs that don’t match their skills or in roles that are not technical, resulting in a waste of talent and abilities.
To make India's engineering education a center for innovation, various changes are essential:
Revamp Curriculum: Move away from memorization to hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that encourages creativity and problem-solving capabilities.
Collaboration Between Industry and Education: Enhance partnerships between schools and businesses to ensure that what is taught matches the current demands and trends of the industry.
Support for Entrepreneurship: Create strong support networks for future entrepreneurs, including guidance, financial backing, and necessary facilities.
Policy Backing: Establish policies that promote research and development, patent registrations, and the commercialization of new ideas.
Global Opportunities: Offer students chances to work with international partners and learn global best practices in engineering and innovation.
India's engineering education system is at a pivotal moment. Although it produces a large number of graduates, the real challenge is using this potential to foster innovation and start new businesses. By tackling the root problems and applying targeted reforms, India can change its engineering landscape into a world leader in technology innovation.
