India needs to plug the skilling gap and build institutions of excellence on its path to Viksit Bharat. Here’s why

FOR A COUNTRY firmly on the path to Viksit Bharat by 2047, India has a skilling problem. According to the India Skills Report 2026, by talent assessment and remote proctoring company Wheebox, employability has steadily increased since 2021, from 45.9% to 56.35%. Yet, nearly 44% of the workforce remains unemployable. “Our institutions need to keep pace with how quickly the workplace is evolving, and with the pace of innovation itself,” Pramath Raj Sinha, chairperson, board of trustees, Ashoka University, tells Fortune India.

He’s not alone. Experts believe that institutions are unable to match industry demands. “Even when hiring is for other disciplines, the industry expects a certain level of AI proficiency. Therefore, the industry-academia skill supply-demand mismatch may be widening for hiring from academic institutions,” says Kamlesh Vyas, partner, Deloitte India.