Reimagining India’s Engineering Education for an AI-Driven Future

Abstract

India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, yet many lack the practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an AI-driven future. IMF forecasts suggest AI could impact 40% of jobs globally by 2025. This paper examines the preparedness of India’s engineering education system for this AI transformation. Surveys show 67% of engineers worry AI will take their jobs; 60% of graduates are deemed unemployable by industry standards. The root causes include an oversupply of low-quality engineering colleges, curricula that focus on theory rather than application, and lack of integration of emerging technologies. Weaknesses in areas of actual technical knowledge, skill with artificial intelligence systems, and high-level problem solving capability abound. This has to be taken under consideration by changing engineering education. The research advises national legislative actions to better control quality and close down low-quality institutions. It supports fresh school curricula including artificial intelligence literacy, projectbased learning, increased software production and incubation of tech companies. Studies on well-known universities reveal that these kinds of events have previously produced favorable consequences. Based on the findings, India can become a talent hotspot if grassroots level policy changes and curriculum reforms follow. They emphasize that upgrading skills must be seen as a lifelong endeavor. Engineers, with their strong technical foundations and complex problem solving abilities, are well positioned to lead India’s AI revolution if given the right training. This not only requires revamping formal education but also access to on-the-job reskilling. The paper ultimately provides a roadmap for India’s engineering sector to harness AI, instead of being displaced by it, based on data-driven insights and global best practices tailored to the Indian context.