THE TALENT LOOP

Why India's growth hinges on who we keep, not just who we train

- By Srikanth Iyengar

INDIA IS AT A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION inflexion point; what does it mean? We're at a crossroads, where today's decisions about our people, infrastructure, and priorities will shape the kind of nation we become over the next 25 years.

As we mark 100 years of independence in 2047, the world will not only watch how fast we grow, but how wisely we build. Becoming a global powerhouse will not be a byproduct of GDP/capital flows alone; it will depend on how we cultivate our greatest asset: our people, especially our youth.

India's ambition of becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' rests on five key tenets; this piece focuses on two--technological upgradation and infrastructure--as the foundation for the rest. The next few decades will belong to nations that can transform their workforce into a strategic advantage. If we play it right, we will not just power the global tech economy, we will define the global talent economy. And that starts by rethinking how enterprises align skilling with business strategy and how we prepare our youth for an AI-powered world. The WEF shows we're not quite there yet: Two-thirds of Indian companies say they need to tap more diverse talent pools; many are bypassing traditional degree filters for apprenticeships and skill-first models; and top talent still looks abroad for better opportunities.

How to Retain Talent