Can it be achieved without core Engg&Science?  

 

Recently, 71 of the top 100 JEE rankers chose IIT Bombay, while IIT Madras attracted candidates with offers like free air travel. Several IITs are now offering various perks to top students. However, this approach, while competitive, does not align with India’s long-term vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. What about the other engineering and science institutions across the country? An even more concerning trend is the disproportionate focus on computer science and engineering (CSE). Most top students gravitate toward CSE, and many IIT graduates opt for management studies instead of entering industry or research.

 

This raises a serious question: who will build and sustain our industrial and technological base? The rising popularity of AI has unfortunately led to the perception that other engineering fields are irrelevant. Bharat @2047: The Ambitious Target India aspires to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047 with a population of around 1.67 billion. This would require: ● A per capita GDP of $30,000 ● High standards of living and sustainable growth ● Major emphasis on clean energy, advanced functional materials, and environmental protection Future society will be radically transformed, with instant communication, on-demand materials and services, urban vertical farming, precision medicine, functional food, and AI-integrated infrastructure.

 

Electronics will dominate, and technologies like 6G, 7G, Industry 6.0 will integrate physical and cyber systems. Yet, the foundational question remains: Are we preparing enough in the core fields to power this transformation? Economic & Industrial Goals India’s economy has already crossed the $4 trillion mark. Reaching $30 trillion will require: ● 70% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education ● 25% contribution of manufacturing to GDP ● 70% of GDP from services ● 10% growth from the auto sector ● $500 billion pharmaceutical and biotech industry ● 65% workforce participation, including 50% women ● At least 10% global share in fintech and professional services This journey demands excellence in smart manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, workforce, and innovation. Currently, manufacturing contributes only 15–17% to GDP.

 

To scale up: ● Strengthen ‘Make in India’ ● Boost PLI schemes ● Incentivise deep-tech manufacturing ● Ease logistics and regulations ● Invest 2% of GDP in R&D ● Promote AI, biotech, quantum, and space technologies through public-private innovation hubs ● Drive green energy transitions (e.g., hydrogen, battery infra, grid modernisation) Engineering & Basic Sciences Are Central To make these aspirationsareality, all core engineering and science disciplines must work together: ● Mechanical, Civil,

 

Electrical, Chemical, and Electronics Engineering will develop smart infrastructure, clean energy, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, net zero energy, automation, and processing systems. ● Emerging interdisciplinary fields like robotics, materials science, and biomedical engineering will revolutionise healthcare, manufacturing, and sustainability. ● Basic sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics) will propel semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, space research. Future warfare and climate challenges will demand advanced drones, sensors, satellites, climate resilient infrastructure, and biocompatible materials. Future wars will be using drone technology with powerful warheads needing powerful chemical industry. Agriculture must focus on smart farming and nutritious crops to eliminate poverty and malnutrition.

 

Thus, revolutionary R&D is needed in fields including mechanical, chemical, civil, electrical, aerospace, materials engineering, food tech, nutraceuticals, environmental and climate sciences. Education Reform: Structure & Delivery The traditional semester system is outdated.Atrimester model is more suitable for all STEMM courses, arts, humanities, commerce, etc.: ● Hands-on learning ● Industry alignment ● Dual degrees ● Flexible credentials: 1-year certificate, 2-year diploma, 3-year bachelor’s, 4-year honors, 5- year master’s

 

In this way, every alternate term half of the batch goes for the work term and the other half in in the class room. Only in the first term and last term the all batchmates unite. They should be paid handsome internship. Students could major in a core field and take minors in AI, business, arts, etc building interdisciplinary skills. Popular minors could include AI/ML, OpenAI, blockchain, finance, Python, deep learning, economics, green energy, water management, and management. AI is a tool and not the substitute for manufacturing.Apersonal. ‘designer’s degree’ is thus possible depending on personal interest. Faculty & Industry

 

Linkages ● Teachers should be allowed one trimester annually for industry exposure. Two terms in classroom, one for research, innovation and translation, startup ● Non-PhD faculty should pursue research during alternative trimesters. ● Alumni should be invited regularly for talks on industry trends, innovation, and entrepreneurship. There is currently a 20–30% faculty shortage in central and state institutions.

 

One solution is engaging PhD students as teaching assistants and interns in industries. Mandating predegree research trimesters can build innovation and employability. All curricula should integrate ethics, professionalism, Indian knowledge systems, and moral values. Funding, Internships & CSR ● Raise CSR obligation from 2% to 3%, with at least 1% for research in higher education. ● Use CSR for infrastructure, fellowships, and contingencies. ● Under the Student Internship Responsibility (SIR) policy, companies with 1 crore turnover must: ● Recruit interns equivalent to at least 10% of their workforce ● Contribute 0.5% of profits to the SIR fund Industry-academia co-investment and IP sharing are critical to drive innovation. Incubators and trimester systems should support startups and research commercialization. Inclusivity & Social Equity Girls must receive free and unrestricted education up to the PhD level, irrespective of caste, region, or economic background.

 

This will require public funding, private support, and CSR. Centre and States can share costs 50:50 to make this a transformative scheme, benefiting socio economically and demographically. Within two generations, India will be an enlightened society with controlled population and high calibre of lifestyle. Outlook Education is not merely a means to a few high-paying jobs but it is the cornerstone of a productive, innovation-driven economy. While computer science is important, all engineering branches and fundamental sciences, along with humanities, are vital for India's industrial, societal, and policy development.

 

Only then Viksit Bharat will be a reality. (The author is Chairman, Board of Governors, LITU Nagpur; Founding Vice Chancellor, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai; Bhatnagar Fellow; National Science Chair; and Padma Shri awardee. Views are personal)