Beyond Marks: The New Fear of Irrelevance in Indian Higher Education

What is the core shift in student anxiety?

The traditional fear in the Indian education system has long been that of academic failure—not securing high marks or admission into a premier institution. A new, more pervasive anxiety is now taking root: the fear of professional irrelevance. Students are increasingly preoccupied not with passing examinations, but with the possibility of their skills and degrees becoming obsolete by the time they graduate. This anxiety manifests in a relentless pressure to accumulate internships, master skills outside the formal curriculum, and build a 'personal brand'. This shift is grounded in economic reality. The annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2022-23 indicated that the unemployment rate among graduates aged 15-29 stood at 13.4%, highlighting a persistent disconnect between holding a degree and securing employment (Source: National Statistical Office).

How has policy attempted to address this?

The government's primary response is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which acknowledges the need to move beyond rote learning towards a more holistic, flexible, and skills-oriented framework. The Ministry of Education's implementation plan focuses on several areas to enhance relevance. Chapter 16 of the policy, for instance, is dedicated to 'Reimagining Vocational Education', with a target that by 2025, at least 50% of learners in the school and higher education system shall have exposure to vocational education. Furthermore, the introduction of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) system, formally launched on July 29, 2021, is designed to allow students to tailor their degrees with courses from different disciplines, theoretically making them more adaptable to a fluid job market. The government's stated position is that these reforms will directly address the employability gap.

Why does a gap persist between policy intent and student experience?

Despite these policy goals, the on-the-ground experience for many students remains one of high anxiety due to the slow pace of implementation. The India Skills Report 2024, a joint initiative by Wheebox, CII, and AICTE, found that while the overall employability of Indian youth has improved to 52.8%, it means that over 47% of graduates are still not considered readily employable for skilled jobs. This gap forces students to take matters into their own hands, building portfolios and learning market-relevant skills not as hobbies, but as essential survival strategies. This phenomenon of students becoming 'full-time brand managers for themselves', as noted in an analysis in The Hindu, is a direct response to this systemic inadequacy.