India’s Youth at the Crossroads: Apeejay Stya University Leads Viksit Bharat Dialogue

Apeejay Stya University (ASU), Gurugram  successfully organised an intellectually stimulating and highly interactive session under the Viksit Bharat Discussion Forum on the theme “Viksit Bharat Abhiyan @2047: India’s Youth at Crossroads – Skills, Jobs and the Fight for Future-

Ready Careers.” The programme witnessed active participation from faculty members and students across various schools of the University.

The session was delivered by Dr. Amit Kumar Sinha, Professor and Head, School of Management Sciences, who offered deep and thought-provoking insights into India’s demographic dividend and the urgent need to convert it into a productive national asset.

Dr. Sinha highlighted key concerns such as skill mismatch, employability challenges, hidden unemployment, and the widening gap between academic curricula and industry expectations.

He emphasised that degrees alone are no longer sufficient and that skills, internships, digital literacy, AI readiness, adaptability, and lifelong learning are critical for building future-ready careers.

The deliberations were strongly aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, emphasising that India’s youth must be prepared not only for their first job but for sustained career growth and meaningful contribution to national development. Important themes such as dignity of labour, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), industry–academia

collaboration, public–private partnership, and 360-degree student profiling were discussed in an engaging and participative manner.

The programme was graced by the august presence of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vijay Vir Singh, who remained present throughout the session. He actively interacted with faculty members and students, motivating them to strive for excellence, innovation, and social responsibility. Prof. Singh encouraged the academic community to contribute meaningfully towards building a strong, self-reliant, and developed India, thereby supporting the cherished national dream of Viksit Bharat.

During the open discussion, Mr. Samba, an international student from Africa, expressed his appreciation to Apeejay Stya University for organising such a timely and relevant programme. He shared that the African continent too has a long-term developmental vision known as Agenda 2063, which aims at the holistic development of Africa by the year 2063.

His intervention added a valuable global dimension to the discussion and highlighted the

universality of youth-led development agendas. The session witnessed the presence and participation of Deans from various Schools, including Prof. Vimala Veeraraghvan, Dean Academics; Prof. Sanjay Ahirwal, Dean Students Welfare; and Prof. Ananda Padhan, Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, along with Distinguished Professor Moinuddin. A large number of faculty members and students from different disciplines also actively participated in the interactive session.

The discussion was effectively coordinated by Dr. Vijay Kumar, Associate Professor and Head, School of Education, while Dr. Manju Rani, Assistant Professor, School of Behavioural Sciences and Nodal Officer, Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme, ASU, served as the Rapporteur of the programme.

The session concluded on a highly optimistic and motivating note, reinforcing that the realisation of a developed India depends on self-driven students, application-oriented teaching, and outcome-focused institutions. The programme was widely appreciated for its relevance, depth, and interactive nature, and participants expressed the need for organising more such forums to guide youth towards a future-ready, inclusive, and globally connected Bharat.