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A LinkedIn post by Srinath Mallikarjunan, CEO and Chief Scientist at Unmanned Dynamics, has gone viral after he highlighted India's severe employment and employability crisis. Sharing insights from his company’s recent internship hiring process, Mallikarjunan revealed that his Indian office received 1,200 applications for just two intern positions. However, after screening, only 20 candidates were shortlisted for further evaluation—highlighting a deep-rooted problem in the country’s education system.
"Most IIT Students Stop Studying After JEE": CEO’s Hard-Hitting Criticism
Mallikarjunan didn’t hold back in his criticism, stating that many of India’s top engineering students stop studying seriously after clearing the JEE exam, making them “mostly unfit” for real-world jobs.
He went on to list five key issues plaguing India’s job market:
IIT students stop studying after JEE, leading to a lack of practical knowledge.
Most private colleges fail to provide valuable education, leaving students unprepared.
A large chunk of university students are first-generation graduates, who unknowingly receive degrees without real knowledge.
Students trust a broken system, where outdated syllabi, meaningless exams, and unqualified teachers fail to equip them with real skills.
Millions of graduates are only fit for clerical, back-office, and call center jobs—all of which are at risk of being replaced by AI.
"Learn from the Right Sources": CEO’s Advice to Students
Mallikarjunan urged students to take control of their own education rather than relying on colleges. He offered three crucial suggestions:
Use international books: Avoid outdated or incorrect textbooks and invest in reputed global academic books.
Leverage NPTEL courses: These free, high-quality online courses can help students truly understand their subjects.
Work on self-driven projects: Instead of blindly following lab curricula, students should experiment with real-world projects and learn how to use lab equipment effectively.
"Don't Waste Your Undergraduate Years"
He warned students that they may never again get the "luxury of time and freedom" to deeply understand their subjects.
"If they squander it due to laziness or naivety (trusting bad colleges), they are forever doomed to an unfulfilled life where their slave driver boss will expect them to do mind-numbing work for 70, 80, or 90 hours per week."
A Reality Check for India's Job Market?
Mallikarjunan’s blunt take has sparked a heated debate online, with some agreeing that India’s education system needs an urgent overhaul, while others argue that not all graduates are unemployable.
What do you think? Is the Indian education system failing students, or is the job market simply too competitive?
