A major gap between education and employment continues to affect India's young workforce, with 80% of higher-education students reporting a lack of practical experience and industry exposure, according to a NITI Aayog report.

The report, Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047, highlights the limited availability of meaningful apprenticeships and internships and calls for urgent reforms to make India's skilling ecosystem more industry-driven and responsive to changing job requirements.

According to the report, 47% of formal workers identify a lack of prior work experience and internships as the biggest challenge when seeking new jobs. The findings underline the difficulty faced by students and early-career professionals in transitioning from classrooms to workplaces.

MSME participation remains low

Despite India's large MSME ecosystem, employer participation in apprenticeships remains limited. The report noted that only around 32,000 of nearly 60 million registered MSMEs had engaged apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).

Participation among ITI trainees has also remained low. Only 8.5% of ITI trainees took up apprenticeships in 2018, indicating a significant gap between vocational education and workplace exposure.

NITI Aayog also flagged limited awareness of credible and high-quality apprenticeship opportunities. Many students reportedly remain uncertain about where to find genuine programmes that can provide meaningful workplace experience.

Multiple platforms create access barriers

The report pointed to the fragmented nature of India's apprenticeship ecosystem as another challenge. The Apprenticeship India Portal, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, administers NAPS, while the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) for graduate and diploma apprentices operates separately under the Ministry of Education.

Although the two platforms serve different schemes, their parallel operation can create confusion and make it harder for learners and employers to identify relevant opportunities.

NITI Aayog recommended establishing a single state-level access window that brings together central and state apprenticeship programmes and connects them with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).

Internships often fail to deliver real experience

The report also raised concerns about the quality of workplace learning. Internships and apprenticeships for students and early-career learners can sometimes be short-term or tokenistic, limiting their ability to serve as a genuine bridge between education and employment.

Workplace barriers also include informal gatekeeping by senior employees, particularly in vocational trades. Such practices can restrict knowledge transfer and prevent young workers from progressing into higher-value roles.

Industry-led skilling needed

NITI Aayog has called for India's standalone skilling programmes to move away from top-down, supply-driven models towards demand-driven, outcome-linked and industry-backed programmes.

The report identified industry-led training for high-growth sectors, large-scale employability and entrepreneurship programmes, and reskilling for sectors facing technological disruption as key priorities.

The need for reform is becoming more urgent as artificial intelligence, automation and climate-related changes rapidly reshape job requirements. With India's median age at around 28, NITI Aayog stressed the importance of flexible, industry-aligned and job-ready learning pathways to prepare the country's young workforce for the jobs of the future.

International students aspiring to pursue higher education in South Korea can apply for the KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027, a fully funded opportunity offered by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The scholarship is open to talented students from all countries seeking admission to Master’s, Master’s leading to PhD, or PhD programmes.

The programme is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, while the application deadline is September 1, 2026. Final-year undergraduate students who are expected to complete their degrees before enrolment may also apply.

KAIST Graduate Scholarship 2027: Key Details

• Host country: South Korea
• University: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• Study level: Master’s, Master’s-PhD and PhD
• Study start date: March 1, 2027
• Application deadline: September 1, 2026
• Funding: Fully funded/tuition support with stipends depending on the scholarship

KAIST Scholarship Benefits

Selected international students may be considered for several scholarship schemes, including the KAIST University Scholarship, KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS), KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS), KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship and Global Korea Scholarship (GKS).

Under the KAIST University Scholarship, eligible students receive a full tuition fee exemption for four semesters for Master’s programmes, 10 semesters for integrated Master’s-PhD programmes and eight semesters for PhD programmes. Students may also receive a monthly stipend and national health insurance support.

The KAIST Global Presidential Scholarship (KGPS) provides a full tuition grant and a monthly stipend of KRW 1,000,000 for four semesters.

The KAIST Prestige Scholarship (KPS) provides a full tuition grant and a monthly stipend of KRW 300,000, while the KAIST CoE PhD Fellowship offers a full tuition grant for four academic years and a monthly stipend of KRW 2.5 million.

Students selected through the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) may receive tuition support, a monthly allowance, accommodation, airfare, insurance and book assistance, subject to the applicable GKS scheme and selection process.

Programmes and Eligibility

KAIST offers graduate programmes across areas including natural sciences, life science and bioengineering, engineering, liberal arts and convergence science, and business. More than 80–90% of lectures are offered in English.

Applicants must be international students without Korean citizenship. Master’s applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree, while PhD applicants need a relevant master’s degree. Final-year students may apply if they will graduate before enrolment.

For applicants required to submit English proficiency scores, the minimum scores include TOEFL iBT 83, IELTS 6.5, TOEIC 720 or TEPS 326. Certain applicants may request an English proficiency test waiver if they meet KAIST’s specified conditions, including completing previous education in eligible countries.

Prospective applicants should check the official KAIST admission guidelines for the latest programme-specific requirements, scholarship conditions and application procedures before submitting their applications.

Tension prevailed at the Jharkhand Secretariat on Wednesday after a large group of successful recruitment candidates entered the premises while protesting the government's decision to cancel several recruitment examinations.

The candidates, many of whom had already cleared the examinations and secured government appointments, were demanding the withdrawal of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam cancellation order.

The protest came amid the Jharkhand government's decision to cancel 22 recruitment examinations and order investigations into 23 others conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and an outsourced agency.

Candidates Protest JSSC-CGL Exam Cancellation

The successful candidates have been protesting since Monday, arguing that they should not lose their jobs because of alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.

Chandan Kumar, who was appointed as an Assistant Section Officer (ASO) after clearing the examination, said candidates had been protesting peacefully outside the Secretariat but entered the premises after the government's cancellation notification.

Another ASO, Shyam Sundar Mandal, said the agitation would continue until the government revoked the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

“We cleared the examination based on our merit. We have no involvement with any irregularities. The government has no right to punish us,” Mandal said.

Candidates have argued that those allegedly involved in examination irregularities should be identified and punished rather than cancelling the entire recruitment process.

“We left everything behind for this job. I worked hard for years, cleared the exam, got appointments and have been diligently serving the government for months. Taking away our jobs now feels like taking away our future,” candidate Chandni Kumar said.

Another candidate, Amit Kumar, said strict action should be taken against those responsible for any alleged malpractice but questioned why the entire batch should suffer.

Police Warn Protesters Over Prohibitory Order

Hatia DSP Neeraj Kumar appealed to the protesters to leave the Secretariat premises, pointing out that a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (BNS) was in force in the area.

He warned that protesters could face legal action for violating the order and advised them to shift their demonstration to a designated location outside the Secretariat.

Following the police administration's intervention, the protesters eventually left the Secretariat premises.

A leader representing the successful candidates said they had agreed to stage a peaceful demonstration at an alternative location but would continue their agitation until the JSSC-CGL cancellation order was withdrawn.

Jharkhand Government Cancels 22 Exams

The controversy follows a major decision by the JMM-led Jharkhand government amid a 26-day student protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

The government has cancelled 22 recruitment examinations and ordered investigations into 23 other examinations conducted by the JPSC, JSSC and an outsourced agency since 2014.

The decision was announced after a Cabinet meeting on Monday, followed by eight notifications issued late Tuesday night.

The cancelled examinations cover recruitment for several administrative, technical and judicial positions. The cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination has triggered particular concern among candidates who had already cleared the test and, in some cases, joined government departments.

Congress Says Government Working on Solution

Reacting to the protests, Congress media in-charge Rakesh Sinha said the government was serious about the concerns of successful candidates and would come up with a solution soon.

The protests have highlighted the difficult situation faced by candidates who cleared recruitment examinations and received appointments but now face uncertainty because of alleged irregularities in the examination process.

The government will now have to balance demands for action against alleged malpractice with the concerns of candidates who maintain that they should not be penalised for irregularities they were not involved in.

The Odisha government has launched the new ‘Videsh Siksha Bruti’ scholarship scheme to support Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from the state who wish to pursue postgraduate and PhD courses at leading foreign universities.

The Higher Education Department (DHE) has invited applications through the state scholarship portal, with the deadline set for August 31. Eligible students can apply for financial assistance for foreign studies for both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic sessions.

The scholarship has been introduced under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana (MMCPY). The scheme aims to provide financial support to Odisha-domiciled SC and ST students seeking admission to top 200 universities and institutes ranked by QS.

Students pursuing postgraduate or doctoral programmes in disciplines including engineering, technical education, medicine, agriculture, architecture and other higher education fields can benefit from the scheme.

Videsh Siksha Bruti: Who Is Eligible?

To qualify, applicants must be domiciled in Odisha and belong to the SC or ST communities. The annual family income must not exceed Rs 12 lakh.

The government plans to support around 50 students every year under the scholarship. Of these, 10 students will be selected for engineering and technical education, another 10 for medical, agriculture, architecture and other technical courses, while 30 students will be supported for courses under the Higher Education Department.

Each selected candidate will be eligible to receive financial assistance of up to Rs 25 lakh per year to support their studies abroad.

However, the scholarship comes with several conditions. Students receiving financial assistance under the scheme cannot simultaneously avail themselves of another scholarship or financial support from the state or Central government, public sector undertakings, private institutions or individuals.

Students facing disciplinary proceedings or criminal charges will also be ineligible for assistance under the scheme.

Candidates who have already completed higher education abroad will not qualify, even if they financed their previous studies themselves.

Applications to Be Invited Twice a Year

The Odisha government plans to invite applications under the Videsh Siksha Bruti scheme twice every year. The application windows are expected during July-August and December-January, allowing eligible students to seek support for different academic admission cycles.

The initiative is aimed at expanding access to international higher education for meritorious students from economically disadvantaged SC and ST communities. By providing substantial financial assistance, the government hopes to reduce the cost barrier associated with studying at leading foreign universities.

The launch comes as Indian students increasingly look towards international universities for postgraduate and doctoral education. For students from disadvantaged communities, the scholarship could provide an opportunity to access globally ranked institutions that may otherwise remain financially out of reach.

Eligible students seeking to pursue PG or PhD programmes abroad should check the Odisha state scholarship portal for the latest application requirements, documentation and deadlines before submitting their applications.

The MITACS Globalink Research Internship 2027 is now open for applications, offering international undergraduate students an opportunity to undertake a fully funded research internship at Canadian universities.

The programme is designed for international students interested in gaining research experience and working with faculty members at Canadian institutions. The internship runs for 12 weeks between May 1 and October 31, 2027.

Students do not need to submit an IELTS score as part of the stated programme requirements.

MITACS Globalink Internship 2027: Key details

• Host country: Canada
• Programme: MITACS Globalink Research Internship 2027
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Internship period: May 1 to October 31, 2027
• Funding: Fully funded
• Application deadline: September 16, 2026
• Eligible applicants: International undergraduate students and students enrolled in combined undergraduate/master's programmes
• Host institutions: More than 70 academic institutions across Canada

MITACS Globalink financial benefits

Selected interns receive financial support covering several expenses associated with travelling to and undertaking the internship in Canada.

The programme provides:

• Round-trip airfare to and from Canada
• Airport transfers to accommodation
• Housing support
• Health insurance
• A stipend towards student enrolment fees of up to CAD 300
• A stipend for food and incidental expenses
• Support from student mentors at the Canadian host institution
• Registration for industry events and professional development courses
• A Globalink Research Internship certificate upon completion

Countries eligible for MITACS Globalink 2027

Students from the following countries are eligible to apply, subject to the programme's country-specific university and eligibility requirements:

Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Applicants should check whether their university is included among the eligible institutions for their country before applying.

MITACS Globalink Internship 2027 eligibility

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements applicable to their country and university. The general requirements include:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Meet the applicable GPA requirement for the applicant's country.
• Have one to three semesters remaining in their programme as of fall 2027.
• A valid passport is not required at the time of application.
• Obtain a reference letter from a professor.
• Submit an updated CV.
• Provide academic transcripts in English or French.
• Apply to at least three and up to 10 research projects.
• Select projects from at least three different Canadian provinces.

Applicants should carefully review the country-specific requirements before submitting their applications.

How to apply for MITACS Globalink Internship 2027

Students should first verify their eligibility and confirm that their university is included in the list of eligible institutions.

They should then identify suitable research projects and prepare the required documents, including their CV, academic transcripts and professor's reference letter.

Applicants must select a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 projects, ensuring that their choices span at least three Canadian provinces.

After submitting the application, eligible applications are reviewed by professors and researchers associated with the selected projects. Applicants may subsequently be considered for placement based on their academic background, research interests and project requirements.

Deadline: September 16, 2026.

Candidates should verify all eligibility conditions, participating universities, project requirements and application instructions on the official MITACS website before applying.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has invited applications for its Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship programme for researchers who have completed their PhD and wish to pursue advanced research at the institute.

The fellowship is aimed at researchers looking to strengthen their academic and research careers through independent work under the guidance of IIT Madras faculty members.

IIT Madras fellowship 2026: Who can apply?

According to the fellowship guidelines, candidates must have completed their PhD within five years before applying. Candidates who have submitted their PhD thesis may also apply, subject to fulfilling the required conditions.

The maximum age limit is 32 years on the date of joining the fellowship.

Age relaxation is available for certain categories. SC, ST and women candidates will receive a five-year relaxation, while OBC-NCL candidates will be eligible for a three-year relaxation.

Candidates are also required to demonstrate a strong research record. Applicants must have at least two Q1 journal publications in which they are listed as the primary contributor.

Candidates who have submitted their PhD thesis but have not yet received the degree can apply. However, they will be required to submit a provisional degree certificate within six months of joining the fellowship.

How to apply for IIT Madras Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Applicants must first identify an IIT Madras faculty member whose research area aligns with their proposed work.

Candidates are required to discuss their research proposal with the faculty member and obtain their consent before submitting the application.

Once submitted, applications will undergo scrutiny by the concerned department. Eligible candidates will then be invited to give a seminar, during which their research proposal and expertise will be assessed.

The Departmental Evaluation Committee will evaluate factors including the originality of the proposed research, the candidate's research experience and the potential contribution of the proposed work to the department.

Candidates who successfully clear the departmental evaluation will move to the next stage of the selection process.

The shortlisted applicants will be considered by the Institute Selection Committee, which will conduct interviews before making recommendations to the Director for final approval.

IIT Madras fellowship tenure

The Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship will have a minimum tenure of two years.

Initially, the fellowship will be offered for one year. It may subsequently be extended for up to two additional years, depending on the fellow's research performance and other applicable conditions.

Interested candidates should carefully review the official fellowship guidelines and application requirements before applying.