Over 55 lakh MBA, BTech, PG candidates apply for Grade-D jobs in India

India is facing a severe unemployment crisis, especially among the educated youth. A recent example of this is the overwhelming response to the Group D jobs advertised by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for the years 2020-2022. According to the SSC Central Region Office in Prayagraj, over 55 lakh candidates have applied for these jobs, which include peons, watchmen, gardeners, and other low-skilled positions.

What is more shocking is that among these applicants are individuals with higher qualifications such as MBA, BTech, MTech, BBA, MA, and MSC degrees. These candidates have applied for jobs that require only a high school diploma as the minimum educational qualification. This shows the desperation and frustration of the highly qualified candidates who are unable to find suitable jobs in their fields of study.

The SSC had invited applications for around 10,880 Multi Tasking Staff (MTS Non-Technical) posts and 529 Havildar CBIC and CBN posts from January 18 to February 24. The age limit for the applicants ranged from 18 to 27 years, with some relaxation for reserved categories. The SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam was conducted last month in various states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where more than 19 lakh candidates appeared.

The huge number of applications for Group D jobs reflects the grim reality of the job market in India. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate in India was 11.9% in May 2023, the highest since June 2020². The urban unemployment rate was even higher at 14.7%. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns have worsened the situation by disrupting various sectors and causing massive job losses.

The educated youth are among the worst affected by the unemployment crisis. According to a report by Azim Premji University, nearly half of India's formal sector workers with graduate degrees and above lost their jobs during April-July 2020 due to Covid-19. The report also found that only one out of ten workers with graduate degrees and above were able to find work within a month of losing their jobs.

The lack of adequate and quality jobs for the educated youth poses a serious challenge for India's economic and social development. It also leads to wastage of human capital and potential, as well as frustration and disillusionment among the youth. It also creates a mismatch between the demand and supply of skills in the labour market.

The government needs to take urgent steps to address the unemployment crisis and create more opportunities for the educated youth. Some of the possible measures are:

- Boosting economic growth: The government should focus on reviving economic growth by stimulating demand and investment, especially in sectors that have high employment potential, such as manufacturing, construction, services, etc. The government should also provide fiscal and monetary support to businesses and industries that have been affected by Covid-19 and help them recover and grow.

- Enhancing skill development: The government should enhance skill development and vocational training programmes for the youth, especially those who are unemployed or underemployed. The government should also align these programmes with the current and future needs of the labour market and ensure their quality and relevance. The government should also promote entrepreneurship and innovation among the youth and provide them with financial and non-financial support.

- Improving education quality: The government should improve the quality and accessibility of education at all levels, especially higher education. The government should also ensure that education is not only imparting knowledge but also developing critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and other employability skills among the students. The government should also encourage industry-academia collaboration and facilitate internships and placements for students.

- Reforming labour laws: The government should reform labour laws and regulations to make them more flexible and conducive for job creation and formalization. The government should also ensure that labour laws protect the rights and interests of workers, especially those in informal and vulnerable sectors. The government should also strengthen social security and welfare schemes for workers.

The SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam has exposed the harsh reality of unemployment in India. It has also highlighted the need for creating more and better jobs for the educated youth. The government, along with the private sector and civil society, should work together to address this challenge and ensure that the youth are able to realize their aspirations and contribute to the nation's progress.

What are the views and opinions of the experts and stakeholders on this issue?

The issue of over 55 lakh MBA, BTech, PG candidates applying for Grade-D jobs in India has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among various experts and stakeholders. Some of them have expressed their views and opinions on this issue, which are summarized below:

- Dr. Santosh Mehrotra, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University: Dr. Mehrotra has said that the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam is a symptom of the larger problem of unemployment and underemployment in India. He has said that India needs to create at least 10 million jobs every year to absorb the new entrants into the labour force, but it has failed to do so in the last few years. He has also said that India needs to improve the quality and relevance of education and skill development to match the demand and supply of skills in the labour market.

- Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Former Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog: Dr. Panagariya has said that the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam is not a sign of desperation but a sign of aspiration among the educated youth. He has said that the youth are applying for these jobs because they offer better pay and security than many private sector jobs. He has also said that India needs to reform its labour laws and regulations to make them more flexible and conducive for job creation and formalization.

- Dr. Ritu Dewan, Vice President, Indian Society of Labour Economics: Dr. Dewan has said that the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam is a reflection of the failure of the education system and the economy in India. She has said that India has a huge skill gap and mismatch between the qualifications and skills of the youth and the requirements of the employers. She has also said that India needs to invest more in public education and health care and provide decent work and social protection for all workers.

- Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI): Mr. Kumar has said that the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam is an indication of the need for more collaboration between industry and academia to bridge the skill gap and enhance employability among the youth. He has said that FICCI has been working with various educational institutions and government agencies to provide industry-relevant courses, internships, mentorship, and placements for students. He has also said that FICCI has been advocating for reforms in labour laws and regulations to make them more flexible and conducive for job creation and formalization.

- Ms. Shobha Mishra Ghosh, Assistant Secretary General, FICCI: Ms. Ghosh has said that the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam is a wake-up call for the government and the private sector to create more and better jobs for the educated youth. She has said that India needs to focus on sectors that have high employment potential, such as manufacturing, construction, services, etc., and provide incentives and support for their growth and development. She has also said that India needs to improve the quality and accessibility of education and skill development programmes for the youth and ensure their alignment with the current and future needs of the labour market.

Conclusion: How can India overcome the unemployment crisis among the educated youth?

The SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam has revealed the extent and severity of the unemployment crisis among the educated youth in India. It has also highlighted the need for urgent and comprehensive action to address this crisis and create more and better jobs for the youth. India cannot afford to waste its demographic dividend and potential by leaving its youth unemployed or underemployed. India needs to harness the talent and skills of its youth and enable them to contribute to its economic and social development.

India needs a multi-pronged and multi-stakeholder approach to overcome the unemployment crisis among the educated youth. The government, along with the private sector and civil society, needs to work together to create a conducive environment for job creation and skill development. The government needs to boost economic growth, enhance skill development, improve education quality, and reform labour laws. The private sector needs to invest more in productive sectors, collaborate more with academia, and provide more opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. The civil society needs to raise awareness, provide guidance, and advocate for the rights and interests of the youth.

India has a young and dynamic population that can be its greatest asset or its biggest liability. The choice is in India's hands. India can either ignore the unemployment crisis among the educated youth and face its adverse consequences, or it can address the unemployment crisis among the educated youth and reap its positive benefits. India can either let its youth languish in despair and frustration, or it can empower its youth with hope and aspiration. India can either lose its demographic dividend and potential, or it can leverage its demographic dividend and potential. India can either fail its youth or succeed with its youth. The time to act is now.

Source:

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(2) MBA 2023 Applications Open | VIT MBA 2023 Admissions. https://admissions.vit.ac.in/pgapplication/.

(3) Great Lakes Institute of Management - Official Website | GLIM. https://www.greatlakes.edu.in/.