Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Education and skill development must become the twin engines of India’s economic transformation, said Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics, Nara Lokesh. Speaking at the CII Southern Region–VIT AP Higher Education Conclave 2025 in Amaravati, the Minister emphasized that India’s vision should now go beyond the $5 trillion milestone towards becoming a $30 trillion economy, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Economic growth is impossible without intellectual capital. Higher education must be restructured to serve as the strategic pillar of this goal,” Lokesh asserted, calling for a bold shift in educational priorities, from degree acquisition to skill creation.

Lokesh highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s rapid industrial growth, noting that $120 billion worth of investments have already been secured in the past 17 months due to the state’s ‘Speed of Doing reforms’. Another $120 billion is expected at the upcoming investors’ summit, he said, adding that the state targets $1 trillion in total investments by 2029.

“Our aim is to make Andhra Pradesh a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047, aligning with the national Viksit Bharat vision,” Lokesh said. “If states become stronger, India becomes unstoppable.” The Minister expressed concern that only 34.7% of India’s working-age population has formal skill training, compared to 96% in South Korea and 80% in Japan. “Just 51% of our graduates are employable not due to lack of intelligence, but due to a mismatch between education and industry needs,” he observed.

To address this, the state has launched a Skill Census, mapping every citizen’s capabilities to align training with industrial demand. The upcoming AI-based ‘NaiPunya Portal’ will bridge the gap between skills and employment opportunities, Lokesh announced. “Skill, speed, and scale will define India’s next leap,” he added.