00:00Every year, millions of young Indians walk across a stage to receive their degrees.
00:04It's a proud moment, years of hard work, countless examinations and dreams of a brighter future.
00:10But for many, that celebration is followed by months or even years of uncertainty.
00:15They have a degree, yet they struggle to find a quality job.
00:18So the question we must ask is, if India is producing more graduates than ever before,
00:24why are so many educated young people still unable to build meaningful careers?
00:28The answer lies not in a lack of talent.
00:31It lies in a growing gap between education and employability.
00:34India is home to one of the youngest populations in the world.
00:37Nearly 65% of our population is below the age of 35.
00:41This demographic advantage has the potential to make India a global economic powerhouse.
00:45But only if our young people are equipped with the right skills.
00:49According to the Mercer Metal India Graduate Skill Index 2025, only 42.6% of Indian graduates
00:56are considered employable.
00:58Think about that.
01:00More than half of our graduates enter the job market without the skills employers are looking for.
01:04The Economic Survey 2024-25 paints an equally concerning picture.
01:08It found that only around 8% of graduates are employed in jobs that match their educational qualifications,
01:13while many others are either underemployed or working in roles that don't utilize their potential.
01:18This is not just a problem for job seekers. It is a challenge for businesses.
01:23Companies are looking for skilled professionals. Young people are looking for opportunities.
01:28Yet both struggle to find each other. Somewhere between the classroom and the workplace,
01:32the connection has been lost. There is another reality that deserves our attention.
01:36Every year, lakhs of talented young Indians dedicate 4, 5, sometimes even 7 years preparing for government
01:44recruitment examinations. Their commitment is admirable. Serving the nation through public service
01:49is a dream worth pursuing. But the reality is that only a small percentage will ultimately secure
01:55these positions. The challenge isn't ambition. The challenge is the absence of a parallel pathway.
02:00If the government job doesn't happen, many aspirants enter the private sector without industry exposure,
02:05practical experience, or market-relevant skills. By then, they are often competing with younger
02:11candidates who already possess hands-on experience. No young person should spend the most productive
02:16years of their life preparing for only one possible future. The good news is, the solution already exists.
02:24And it requires all of us to work together. Governments can shape policy. Educational institutions can
02:30modernize curricula. NGOs can connect with communities and identify local talent.
02:35But corporates also have a transformative role to play. This is where corporate social
02:39responsibility can make a lasting impact. CSR should not stop at building classrooms.
02:43It should help build careers. Imagine CSR-supported skill development centers across India,
02:49where engineering graduates learn artificial intelligence and automation. Commerce students
02:54gain expertise in financial analytics. Rural youth are trained in renewable energy and solar technologies.
03:00Women develop digital entrepreneurship skills. And every student graduates with an industry-recognized
03:06certification alongside their degree. Imagine if every graduate left college not just with knowledge,
03:11but with confidence, experience, and employable skills. That is how we transform education into opportunity.
03:21Because the future of work isn't waiting. Technology is evolving. Industries are changing.
03:26And the jobs of tomorrow will demand continuous learning, adaptability, and practical skills.
03:31India's demographic dividend will become a dividend only if our youth are future ready.
03:35At Feenovation, we believe CSR is more than corporate giving. It is a strategic investment in people.
03:41When businesses, governments, NGOs, and educational institutions come together, they don't just create projects.
03:48They create possibilities. They build careers. They strengthen communities. And they contribute to a stronger nation.
03:55Because in the end, the true value of education is not measured by the number of degrees we award. It's
04:02measured by the number of lives we empower.
04:04The question before us is no longer, how many graduates can India produce? The real question is, how many futures
04:12can we help build? Thank you.
