This article discusses the “Diamond Beneath Your Feet”, a free international internship opportunity for engineering and management graduates in India from tier 2 and 3 institutions. The program aims to enhance the skill development of these students by providing them with international exposure. It is announced and implemented by the International Institute of Medical Science & Technology council after significant efforts. The author emphasizes the challenges faced by the council in implementing a free software that would validate the authenticity of internship projects conducted by self-proclaimed educators at universities. The lack of hands-on training in various fields, such as technology and medicine, leaves candidates unskilled and ill-prepared for job opportunities. Some renowned public universities even take a U turn on the basic concept of internship by falsely claim to provide hands-on training by incorporating NSDC modules into their curriculum, further disadvantaging students in the job market. Both AICTE and University is answerable to the student community if their employability further reduces. The misuse of government funds funneled through individuals will be investigated, and the council will take appropriate action to support the welfare of the student community. The resistance from bureaucrats collaborating with individuals undermines the Prime Minister’s internship policies, which aim to improve internship quality and verify students’ skills. The reluctance of university authorities, including lecturers, suggests a problematic relationship with fake organizations issuing certificates, contributing to the challenges in implementing quality assurance software. As a result, the council has initiated an inquiry to uncover a widespread internship scam orchestrated by a network siphoning funds from various organizations. The council urges the central government to form a vigilance intelligence team to inquire the funding whether the same reach to the appropriate usage and CAG will have to intervene for misuse of fund if any.

Poor policies and decision makers have squandered India’s skilled human resource. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is a national council under the Ministry of Education, established in 1945 and given statutory status in 1987. It is responsible for planning and developing technical and management education in India, with a focus on quality improvement and accreditation. Let’s review the past two decades to determine if the focus of engineering education has been on quality or quantity of graduates for profit.

In 2004-05, the All India Council for Technical Education reported that around 440,000 students were enrolled in first-level engineering degree programs, 265,000 at the diploma level, and 33,000 at the master’s level. In comparison, the seven IITs had a total of 25,000 students enrolled at all levels in 2002-03 according to the Rao report. While specific figures on the annual number of graduating engineers are not readily available at that time, a 2005 study by the National Academies in Washington, D.C. estimated that approximately 200,000 students graduate each year from first-level engineering programs nationwide, revised down from an original estimate of 350,000. Another study by Duke University researchers suggests a slightly higher number of 215,000 graduates. In comparison, the National Academies estimate that U.S. institutions graduate around 70,000 engineering students each year, while about 100,000 students graduate from institutions in the European Union.

The AICTE sets standards for new universities and programs, accredits programs through the NBA, and provides funding for public institutions primarily through government grants. Many higher education institutions, particularly in technical fields, are noted for being underfunded, leading to inadequate resources and staffing. The rapid expansion of technical institutions in both the public and private sectors has resulted in significant challenges. Colleges are finding it difficult to hire qualified faculty, graduates are struggling to secure employment, and regulators are facing pressure to enhance standards. Corruption within regulatory bodies hindered the improvement of the primary goal of the council. Incompetent and short-sighted leadership in universities and institutes neglected the needs of the country’s future citizens.

The rulers and policymakers failed to consider the aspirations of the common people who sent their children to engineering colleges in hopes of a better future and job opportunities. Political disputes over caste, creed, religion, reservations, capitations, and other influences have caused intellectuals to be sidelined, leading to worries and tears. The IITs are renowned for offering top-quality technology and engineering programs in India, particularly at the undergraduate level. With strong support from India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the IIT network aimed to modernize India by producing a highly educated workforce capable of undertaking various engineering projects to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.

Despite being funded by our country and its citizens for the purpose of national development, many undergraduates have chosen to pursue opportunities abroad, utilizing their skills outside India to secure lucrative positions. This global recognition of IIT has enabled generations of alumni to secure prestigious and highly paid roles at companies worldwide. In the academic year 2002-03, the seven IITs collectively conferred degrees to 2,275 B.Techs. The total student population included 11,700 undergraduates (enrolled in a four-year program). According to Duke’s estimate of 215,000 first-level engineering graduates, IIT’s B.Tech graduates accounted for only less than 1 percent of the annual total of engineering graduates in India. In 2002, the government upgraded 17 Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) to National Institutes of Technology (NITs), granting them autonomy similar to IITs. Currently, there are 20 NITs that award their own degrees as deemed-to-be universities. Additionally, 38 publicly funded research institutions and laboratories operate under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, contributing to applied research and serving as centers for university doctoral work.

However, some argue that these institutions have diverted funds from university research budgets. While the quality of students and qualification of the faculty at many engineering colleges, including the ones mentioned above, is decreasing, there is a growing concern among policymakers, education officials, and commentators that standards in Indian engineering education have significantly dropped in recent years. Indian engineering education is facing numerous challenges, as highlighted in recent studies and media coverage.

This summary outlines the main issues and recommendations put forth by various stakeholders. The U.R. Rao Committee Report, submitted in September 2003, highlights the urgent need for regulation in the rapidly expanding technical education sector. The report identifies issues such as the proliferation of institutions, lack of qualified faculty, weak quality assurance, and insufficient industry-academic collaboration. High levels of unemployment among engineering graduates are attributed to the mismatch between graduate growth and economic demand. The report emphasizes the importance of aligning academic programs with industry needs to address the skills gap. The worker deficit is not due to a shortage of graduates. Only 25% of engineering graduates and 10% of generalist degree holders are deemed employable by multinational companies. The rest lack technical skills, English proficiency, communication abilities, and teamwork skills, as per a 2005 report.

The Nasscom study and the Rao Committee report recommend reducing the annual number of engineering graduates in India to focus on improving faculty, infrastructure, and curriculum quality. This will help increase the percentage of graduates who are job ready. The distribution of technical institutions in India is uneven, with the southern states and Maharashtra hosting nearly 60% of engineering institutions, while the eastern and northern states have only 16%. This imbalance highlights the need for better regulation and planning by the AICTE to address oversupply and undersupply of technical manpower. Is this regulatory authority working for the nation’s development, or is it influenced by political pressure and money from the south?

The nation needs to address this imbalance and take action. Indian students in the United States, particularly those from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), have received the highest number of U.S. doctoral degrees in computer and information sciences compared to any other foreign group. Approximately 25,000 IIT alumni are currently working or studying in the U.S. Additionally, a 1997 OECD survey found that over 80 percent of Indian students studying in the U.S. do not plan to return to India after completing their studies. Accreditation is mandatory for technical institutions, but less than 10 percent are actually accredited. The Rao report shows a significant gap between AICTE recognition and accreditation. In May 2003, only 985 programs from 202 institutions were accredited out of approximately 14,000 programs at 3,589 degree-granting institutions and 1,608 diploma institutions. This data suggests a lack of trust in the accreditation process.

Even though India has been recognized by the Washington accord it must be noted that there are serious lacunae in the engineering education system. One of the most important issues raised by industry doyens in that of lack of industry-university connect. According to Narayan Murthy, the majority of admission to the Washington Accord would lend much greater weight to NBA accreditation as students graduating from NBA-accredited programs would enjoy increased international employment and credit-transfer opportunities.

The AICTE is facing challenges in upholding the high standards of top institutions in India though later it receives signatory membership in Washington Accord. The Rao Committee report highlights the need for the AICTE to focus on maintaining standards at existing institutions, opening new institutions in underserved areas, closing substandard institutions, and addressing faculty shortages by investing in postgraduate education and retaining talented students in academia. Data from RTI applications shows that around 40% of IIT graduates from the class of 2024 are still seeking employment.

This data represents the largest decrease in unemployment percentage in three years, showing a consistent rise from 19% in 2021 to 21% in 2022. The concerning trend is that unemployment rates in IITs are doubling every two years. In absolute numbers, this translates to an alarming count of unplaced students reaching up to a staggering 21,500 in the year 2024. In 2024, employability among Indian engineering graduates increased to 64% from 57% in 2023. The overall youth employability rate in the country was 52.25% in 2024. In the IT sector, only 25% of engineering graduates are considered employable out of 3 million anticipated positions this year, highlighting the sector’s competitiveness. The overall employability of engineering graduates might have improved, indicating if progress in skills and quality education essential for industry growth. In the present scenario in India, if you are thinking of pursuing engineering with the expectation of guaranteed placement, it may be wise to rethink your decision. There is a high chance that you could face unemployment. Statistics indicate that half of the engineering graduates in India from recent years are currently without jobs. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar stated last year that there is a 48 percent unemployment rate among engineering graduates.

A recent analysis in a newspaper highlighted the challenges faced by graduates from Tier 2 and 3 engineering colleges in securing placements directly from their institutions. Reports suggest that Bangalore, known as the IT Hub of India, is experiencing a decrease in employment opportunities for engineering graduates. A report released by Team Lease EdTech last year revealed a 10 percent drop in the recruitment of fresher’s in the IT sector in Bangalore.

A 60-year-old well established Engineering college in Bangalore, has experienced a decrease in on-campus placements over the past three years. Data from the college indicates a decline in the number of job offers made during on-campus placement drives. The placement drive for 2024 commenced in August 2023, and so far, 601 job offers have been extended to students. In 2023, the college made 1122 job offers, while in 2022, the number was 1485. Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, has recorded lower on-campus placement. NIRF report on VTU states that in 2022, 137 students were only placed. According to data from Naukri.com the average salary of VTU engineering graduates has decreased from Rs.6.5 Lakh in 2011- 2013 to Rs.3.2 Lakh in 2018-2021.

A NASSCOM report estimates that, out of the 3 million joining the IT workforce, only 25 percent of graduates with engineering background are employable. A study conducted by the International Institute of Medical Science & Technology council found that individuals who are unemployed are at a high risk of experiencing psychological stress, particularly depression and anxiety. This can have a detrimental impact on their overall health, the security of their families, and the stability of society as a whole.

The council also noted that those who are underemployed are more likely to engage in illegal activities, struggle with substance abuse, and become involved in criminal behavior. Graduates who are unable to find suitable employment may end up working in unrelated fields, such as corporate food supply chains, leading to mental health issues and potentially making decisions to harm themselves. It is clear that engineering students face significant pressure and financial burden throughout their academic journey, from entrance exam preparation to graduation. When their efforts do not yield the desired results, it can have a negative impact on their mental well-being and lead them towards undesirable paths. The lackadaisical approach of bureaucratic officials in regulatory bodies, absence of political determination and coherent policies, corruption, apathy of university administrators, complacency of local inspection committees, biased accreditation committees, avarice of institutional leaders, and inadequate guidance from college leadership all contribute to this issue.

Dr.Sreedhar Saraswathy

Chairman of AIIMS Technology council