In this episode of How India's Economy Works, Puja Mehra speaks with Electrical Engineer Sudhir Gera, Director of Operations at IEC Electric Power Ltd, who has spent over three decades in the industry and has worked closely with engineering colleges, regulators, and policymakers. He explains why India's challenge is not a shortage of engineering graduates but a shortage of industry-ready skills. From outdated curricula and weak industry-academia collaboration to the dominance of IT jobs and the neglect of hands-on manufacturing training, Gera argues that the country's engineering education system is no longer aligned with the needs of modern industry.

He also proposes an ambitious "linking school" model that would connect engineering colleges, local industries, and students—much like teaching hospitals do for medical education—to bridge the gap between classrooms and shop floors. The discussion also explores how AI is reshaping engineering careers, why manufacturing deserves renewed attention, and what reforms are needed if India is to become a global manufacturing powerhouse.

Tune in for insights on why India's employability crisis is really a skills crisis, how engineering education can be reimagined for manufacturing, and what it will take to build the workforce India's industrial future demands.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Introduction to the Interview

(00:56) Background of Sudhir Gera

(01:28) Defining the Employability Crisis

(04:47) Role of MSME Margins

(07:41) Need for Training Infrastructure

(09:07) Assembly Versus True Manufacturing

(11:06) Stigma Around Vocational Skills

(14:04) Introducing the Linking School

(18:16) Sourcing Industry Experts Faculty

(21:12) Value of Practical Knowledge

(26:01) Geopolitics and Manufacturing Needs

(30:45) Bringing Action to Industry

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