Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran has declared that the era where degrees like computer science and MBAs automatically guaranteed a career advantage is drawing to a close. Speaking to ANI's Smita Prakash, Nageswaran urged young Indians to instead focus on acquiring trade and professional skills that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot easily replicate.
Shifting Value of Traditional Degrees
Nageswaran explained that the benefits once associated with software, computer science, and MBA education were largely a product of globalization. He believes this advantage will no longer offer the same competitive edge in the future. Instead, he highlighted the growing importance of practical skills and human interaction.
"The globalizing world gave a certain advantage for your software, computer science, or MBA education, but that era is over. It's about trade skills. It's about soft skills which AI cannot easily replace, where human presence is required," Nageswaran stated.
Respecting Vocational Professions
The CEA stressed the need for a societal shift in India's perception of vocational professions. He drew comparisons with countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and China, where trade skills are highly valued. Nageswaran noted that India often treats professions like welding, plumbing, and carpentry as less prestigious, labeling them merely as 'diplomas' and making them unfashionable.
"If you are a welder, a plumber, an electrician, and a carpenter etc. India doesn't consider it a diploma; we call it a diploma. We kind of made it unacceptable, unrespectable, and unfashionable. That needs to change," he asserted, adding that these are the areas where technological advancements cannot easily remove employability.
The Irreplaceable Human Element
To illustrate his point, Nageswaran recounted an interaction with a friend's son, a trained chef who felt discouraged compared to peers in other fields. The CEA advised him:
"You are actually sitting on a gold mine as a chef. You cannot be replaced by AI... Many others can be replaced, your friends. So don't be disheartened by the current comparison you are making with your friends."
He emphasized that skills requiring human presence and creativity, like those of a chef, will become increasingly valuable. Nageswaran also expressed optimism about India's capacity for innovation, suggesting that critics often overlook the country's ability to find creative solutions and generate new forms of employment within emerging service sectors and niche opportunities.