India’s GER stands at 28%, but the National Education Policy 2020 aims for it to touch the 50% mark by 2035. The India Skills Report 2025 shows that only about 2% of graduates pursue additional skilling certifications after completing degrees. High attrition, long onboarding cycles, and productivity loss impose real costs, with attrition rates of 30–40% common across retail, logistics, hospitality, and manufacturing alone (India Skills Report 2025). Sector skill councils: Intended to own results, yet fail to do soThe most serious structural failure in India’s skilling ecosystem lies with Sector Skill Councils (SSCs). Employer surveys frequently indicate that SSC credentials possess limited signalling value in comparison to degrees or prior work experience (India Skills Report 2025).

Source: The Hindu January 06, 2026 19:41 UTC