Challenges And Opportunities
For
Indian Engineers
By
Prof. V.S. Raju
(Formerly: Director, IIT Delhi
Professor and Dean, IIT Madras)
1
THE 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES:
Some of them are:
a) Population Explosion and Poverty
b) Depleting Natural Resources
c) Environmental Degradation
d) Widening inequalities in wealth and
access to resources
Prof. V. S. Raju
2
THE 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES (Contd…)
e) Societal tensions, endemic youth
unemployment
f) High Impact of Technology on Society,
Commerce, Education, Entertainment,
Life Styles
g) Demand for mass education
h) Globalization
Prof. V. S. Raju
3
In Addition, Crucial Issues For India:
Population below poverty line: 25%
Share of poor people of the world : 41%
However rapid progress in the last two decades
Reduction in Number of poor people : 49% in1994 to 25%
in 2012
Economy growing at 9% per year till 2008 and 5% in 2013
Improvements in infrastructure, Ex: 800 million cell
phones
Good chance to catch up with the developed world
Prof. V. S. Raju
4
In Addition, Crucial Issues For India :
Rapid Urbanization
 1990 population of India : 850 mill. with 30%
living in urban environment.
 2001 - 1027 mill. with  40% urban.
 By 2020 the projections are 1340 mill. with ~ 60%
urban.
Prof. V. S. Raju
5
Urbanisation (Contd..)
 Such a dramatic growth in urban population imposes
tremendous pressures.
For survival, total dependence on infrastructure
development for transport of essential goods, water and
food, public transport, sanitation, etc.
In addition, for trade and development massive efforts
are needed to develop Highways, Railways, Seaports,
Airports, Waste Management systems, etc.
 Linking of Rivers.
Prof. V. S. Raju
6
Needs Of Rural Areas
* Drinking water & Sanitation
* Irrigation
* Employment generation
* Quality Heath Care and Education
Prof. V. S. Raju
7
The Pillars of Economy
1. Infrastructure
2. Agriculture
3. Manufacturing
4. Services
Prof. V. S. Raju
8
INFRASTRUCTURE
Is the very basis of economic development.
Provides vital support to productive sector,
key driver for development.
Role of private sector in financing infrastructure
in partnership with the public sector is gaining
universal acceptance - Evolution of Public
Private Partnership (PPP).
Prof. V. S. Raju
9
Infrastructure Contd…
Investment across
Electricity
Roads & Bridges
Ports & Airports
Oil & gas
Telecom
Railways
Irrigation & Water supply
Sanitation & health care, etc.
(IT has a key role in all)
Prof. V. S. Raju
10
Excerpts from Draft 12th 5 – year Plan
(2012 – 17)
GDP likely to grow at 9 – 9.5%.
 To maintain the growth momentum, investment
required in infrastructure
– US $ 1 trillion
– INR 50 lakh crores
Prof. V. S. Raju
11
Power Requirements
 100 GW Power capacity addition – 50% of
existing capacity is to be added.
 All types of power sources to be tapped.
Prof. V. S. Raju
12
Demand Of Urbanization By 2030
 700 – 900 mn sqmt of commercial and residential
space along with support infrastructure.
• 2 Mumbai’s to be built every year.
Prof. V. S. Raju
13
Roads To Be Built………
 2.5 bn sqmt of Roads.
• 20 times of the capacity added in the last
decade.
Prof. V. S. Raju
14
Metros That Would Be Required……
7400 kms of Metros.
• 20 times of the capacity added during last
decade.
Prof. V. S. Raju
15
Educational Infrastructure
 Enormous growth in education at all levels
 Training facilities requiring huge building
infrastructure, power, water, sanitation etc.,
 (Currently in India ≈ 6% of youth go to University
Developed Country ≈ 30%)
Prof. V. S. Raju
16
Example: Growth Of IITs – Currently 16
 Dr. Kakodkar Committee recommendations
 Each IIT to have 12000 students (Current 1500 to 7000)
1200 Faculty (Current 100 to 700)
 Existing IITs to reach this level in 10 years
 New IITs some what longer
 4 more IITs to join – Total 20 IITs & 2.4 lakh students
Prof. V. S. Raju
17
Requirement of Human Resources for
construction by 2022
(Source: Draft 12th 5 year plan)





Engineers
Technicians
Support Staff
Skilled Workers
Un-skilled / Semi - skilled
Total
3.7 million
4.3 million
3.7 million
23.4 million
57 million
97 million
50 million additional jobs in the next 10 years.
Prof. V. S. Raju
18
Comparing India Vs China

GDP of China was 1.2 times that of India in 1982,
in 2002 it has grown to 2.6 times. In 2012 it is 4.5
times

By 2002 China lifted 400 mn people out of
poverty line, rate declining to 4.6%.

Indian poverty rate reduction: 49% in 1994 to
25% in 2012.

By 2012 the amount of FDI in China was nearly
10 times compared to India.
Prof. V. S. Raju
19
Implementation
 A combination of public investment
and public – private Investment (PPP).
 PPP to increase from 33% to 50%
 Through PPP, Implementation will be
faster with better quality.
Prof. V. S. Raju
20
Our Advantages
Demographic Dividend
 India’s labour force to increase by 32%
over next 20 years.
 It will decline by 4 – 5% in most economies
including China.
Prof. V. S. Raju
21
Entrepreneurial Skills
 Emergence of Young and dynamic entrepreneurs.
 Faster decisions, quicker implementation, high
aspirations.
Success Stories:
 IT Sector: TCS, INFOSYIS, WIPRO
 Telecom: 850 million Cell phones Airtel, Voda phone, Idea
Prof. V. S. Raju
22
Diminishing ‘Brain Drain’ ; Brain Bank
 Indian Top Talents prefer Indian offers over
the international.
 NRIs willing to come back to India.
 Substantial number are already back.
Prof. V. S. Raju
23
Opportunities
And
Challenges
Infrastructure deficit
Domestic Construction
capacity
Young work force
Technology absorption
Growth Momentum
Land Acquisition
Global Demand
Skills shortage
(Skill India)
Prof. V. S. Raju
24
Do You Know?
At the time of Emperor
AKBAR, (1556 – 1605) India was
the richest economy in the world
Prof. V. S. Raju
25
Desirable Characteristics of XXI
Century Engineers
Traditional Attributes
Problem-solving abilities
Analytical Skills
Communications Skills
Ability to relate to practical Aspects
Inter-personal skills
Management Skills
Decision-making skills
Prof. V. S. Raju
26
Desirable Characteristics of XXI (Contd…)
XXI Century Additional Attributes
Learnability : learning to learn
Strong desire for life-long learning
Ability to work in a team
Exposure to commercial disciplines
Creativity and Innovation
Integrative Skills
International outlook
Ability to deploy IT
Ability to work at interfaces between traditional
disciplines
Commitment to sustainable Development
Prof. V. S. Raju
27
Global Demand For Indian Manpower
Technical manpower and Engineering Services from
India are in demand all over the world.
Two aspects to this:
1. India has to train sufficient numbers to
meet its own demand as well as global
demand.
2. Education process has to be in tune with the
global system.
In a broader sense, the educational processes globally
are tending to be similar; differences in
quality/resource availability
Prof. V. S. Raju
28
Challenge: Quality of Education
Estimate: Only 25% of the graduates are
employable
 Acute shortage of Faculty
 Limitations on Infrastructure
 Lack of Interaction between Academia and
Industry
Prof. V. S. Raju
29
Possible Solutions:
To create high quality, globally benchmarked,
technical educational opportunities in India,
to meet Indian and global demand.
Networking:
For optimum utilization of scarce resources and
for mutual benefit: among academic institutions
in the country, region and globally.
Academia – Industry interaction
Prof. V. S. Raju
30
Academia – Industry interaction
This is a must for quality education
Improves overall quality of Faculty
Make teaching more relevant
Relevant student projects
Prof. V. S. Raju
31
Academia – Industry interaction
How to achieve it?
Faculty to spend part of their vacation with
the Industry.
Persons from Industry to give special
lectures to students.
To serve as visiting faculty and teach part of
a course.
Joint guidance of student projects.
Prof. V. S. Raju
32
Faculty Development
Why Teaching as a career
1. The greatest gift one can give and receive is knowledge.
(Swami Vivekananda)
2. In the Hindu tradition, Mother, Father and Teacher are
equated to GOD. (Acharya Devo Bhava).
3. Empowering, enabling and satisfying. There is no one
between the Teacher and the Student. There is no need
for hierarchy.
4. Generally the children of Teachers do very well in
education and life.
5. As a Teacher, it is easy to follow ethics and values – very
important to be Happy
Prof. V. S. Raju
33
Have a National Perspective
Constitution Of India
Article 51 A, Part IV A, Fundamental duties
 To strive towards excellence in all spheres of
individual and collective activity so that the nation
constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and
achievement
 To develop the scientific temper, humanism and spirit
of inquiry and reform.
Prof. V. S. Raju
37
May All Beings be Happy
“SARVE JANA SUKHINO BHAVANTU”
JAI HIND
Prof. V. S. Raju
52