India, which faces a challenge of critical skills for its workforce in its quest to sustain a sustained 9 per cent economic growth rate, is expected to see a surge in the supply of skills in a few years, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, said on
Sunday.
While the panellists raised questions on the issues that India will have to focus, Ahluwalia seemed very optimistic of getting over hurdles.
“There are inherent strengths on the supply side that will help India grow,” Ahluwalia told a session on “Economic Update: India’s Outlook,” at the India Economic Summit.
Responding to Shumeet Banerji, CEO, Booz and Company, who raised questions on the skills available and the employability of an emerging work-force in India, Ahluwalia said: “Over the next 5-6 years there will be a significant difference in the quality of skills that come out.”
Raghuram Rajan, professor at the University of Chicago and a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, said the government’s ability to implement its education programe was crucial, and sought for the removal of hurdles for private firms expanding in the field of education.