India’s infrastructure decade hinges on talent execution

To call India’s infrastructure story a growth story would be an understatement. Everywhere one looks, it seems India is under construction. But this phase of construction is needed to make the country future-ready. The past decade has seen the rise of multimodal networks, accelerated project pipelines, and unprecedented public investment, mainly fuelled by frameworks such as PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the government’s broader seven engines approach (railways, roads, ports, airports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics) that now position infrastructure as India’s primary employment engine.

However, the sum of all parts, such as budgets, policies, and projects, rests on people and developing the right talent. Although India produces millions of graduates every year, studies show a widening mismatch between industry needs and workforce readiness. As highlighted by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, talent shortage persists despite rising graduate numbers. This shortage is especially acute in the construction, real estate, infrastructure, and project management (CRIP) sector.

Moving beyond the talent paradox

India faces a paradox—there are numerous engineering graduates and yet, there is a shortage of job-ready professionals. Research reveals gaps across exposure to real project environments, outdated curricula, insufficient digital and project management proficiency, and limited understanding of contracts, safety, logistics, and multidisciplinary coordination.

This has been a similar pattern for the CRIP sector as well, where academia taught theory while the industry needed practitioners. Today, infrastructure is a systems-driven, data-enabled, sustainability-oriented domain, where the demands for a Viksit Bharat require AI in construction, BIM (Building Information Modeling), IoT-enabled monitoring, sustainability protocols, and integrated project delivery.

Whether it is building high-speed rail, industrial corridors, green energy parks, urban transit, or megaprojects under smart cities, execution requires engineers who can integrate design, technology, communication, cost, and risk.

Hence, the next phase of India’s infra expansion must focus on pooling and developing the right talent, and developing and bridging technical knowledge with real-world execution capability. Specialised institutions have existed, some for over 40 years, addressing this gap by co-creating curricula with EPC leaders, partnering with construction technology firms,

integrating site immersion modules, developing live project studios, and involving industry mentors in assessments.

This approach reflects the global skilling models powered by public-private collaboration and targeted training ecosystems. India, too, has taken note by developing its own policy framework, such as the Skill India Mission, PMKVY 4.0, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and ITI upgradation, which pushes for similar on-the-job training and applied skilling.

Beyond the ‘hard hat’

For the CRIP sector, a perception challenge still exists. Many civil and engineering graduates view the infrastructure career as a site-heavy and labour-intensive degree. When in reality, this is one of the most future-centric and impact-driving sectors, in India and globally.

While there is demand for civil, mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineers, the exact nature of their role has moved beyond conventional to one that also encompasses the ability to plan complex systems, manage quality and safety, optimise costs, and support commissioning across roads, metros, power networks, and renewable projects.

At the same time, the sector’s rapid digitalisation has made proficiency in tools like BIM, simulation software, GIS planning, IoT-based monitoring, and data analytics indispensable.

Infrastructure is increasingly built, tested, and optimised in the digital space long before it becomes a physical reality. This shift is matched by an equally powerful sustainability transition, creating demand for professionals who understand green construction, energy-efficient systems, environmental compliance, and the execution of renewable and climate-resilient projects.

The CRIP ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with studies projecting nearly 25 million new roles by 2030 in EPC, construction technology, green infrastructure, logistics, and allied sectors.

If India must deliver the next wave of mega projects, we must treat talent development with the same priority as capital investment. This calls for a deeper partnership between academic institutions and industry, from co-designing programmes, sharing expertise, to enabling hands-on learning, and creating continuous pathways for upskilling.

India’s infrastructure momentum is here. The question is whether we can unlock the right talent to sustain it. If we succeed, the next decade will not only reshape skylines, it will reshape careers, capacities, and the very architecture of India’s growth.

(The author is director general (interim) of NICMAR. Views are personal.)