March 13, 2026 01:06 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Pranab calls for skilling of India's large workforce through training
Kolkata, Nov 29 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee has called for the skilling of India's large workforce, which accounts for two-third of her population, through proper training and education.
He was speaking on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the 150th Anniversary of Metropolitan Institution at Kolkata on Saturday.
The President said: "The progress of our nation is contingent on the drive, motivation, initiative and energy of our youth. India boasts of the largest population of young people in the world. This demographic dividend can be reaped only through education."
He pointed out that India has the largest secondary education system in the world with total enrolment of over 10.7 crore. Yet, the gross enrolment ratio at the secondary education level is a mere 53 in India as compared to 96 in the US, 94 in South Africa and 89 in Russia and Mexico respectively.
Mukherjee stated that more than two lakh meritorious students leave the country for pursuing higher studies in foreign universities and none of our institutions are ranked in the top 200 positions by reputed international surveys.
"Yet, there was a time between 6th century B.C. and 12th century AD when scholars from around the globe used to flock to Indian seats of higher learning like Nalanda, Takshashila and Vikramshila," he said.
The President said standards of education in the country must be improved and education made affordable for meritorious students from all backgrounds.
"There is also need to create a large pool of good quality and committed teachers who can be entrusted the responsibility of shaping the next generation," he added.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Indian-origin brothers face over 400 years in jail after massive fraud conviction in US
Fri, Mar 13 2026
Two oil tankers break Strait of Hormuz deadlock, reach India amid West Asia conflict
Thu, Mar 12 2026
Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla fails after stormy Lok Sabha debate
Wed, Mar 11 2026
India sends relief supplies to flood-hit Mozambique
Wed, Mar 11 2026
Supreme Court allows first-ever passive euthanasia for 32-year-old man in coma for 13 years
Wed, Mar 11 2026