India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates every year, the highest in the world. Yet, despite this massive output, the country struggles to match global leaders in innovation, patents, and breakthrough technologies.

One of the biggest hurdles is employability. Only 42.6% of graduates are considered job-ready, reflecting a growing mismatch between classroom learning and industry needs. Many students are trained in rote learning rather than critical thinking or problem-solving, leaving companies to spend time and money retraining fresh recruits.

Meanwhile, global competition is fierce. In 2023, India filed around 64,000 patents, commendable, but far behind China’s 122,000. Some institutions, like IIT Indore, are making progress with record-breaking patents in fields like healthcare and aerospace, but such examples remain exceptions, not the norm.

Experts argue that systemic reform is essential. Stronger ties between academia and industry, project-based learning, entrepreneurship support, and global exposure could help transform India’s engineering talent into innovators. With AI and automation reshaping jobs, upskilling is no longer optional but a necessity.

India stands at a crucial turning point: it can either continue producing degree-holders or nurture creators who will drive the next wave of technological transformation.