Jitendra Singh: PhD Should Be Choice, Not Fallback Option for Students

PhD should be a choice, not a fallback option: Jitendra Singh

Bengaluru, June 13

Speaking at the RISE 2026 conclave in Bengaluru, Singh said India's education system had for decades encouraged students to view advanced degrees as fallback options when other career aspirations failed to materialise. According to him, this trend has contributed to concerns over employability among PhD graduates and the overall quality of research.

In a candid assessment of the country's academic landscape, the Minister observed that a section of PhD graduates struggling to secure suitable employment had pursued doctoral studies not out of a passion for knowledge creation, but because they were left searching for alternative career opportunities.

He said many of those unable to find jobs despite having PhDs were not employable because they had done a PhD "by default". He added that some had wanted to become doctors, civil servants or pursue other professions, and when those opportunities did not work out, they moved into research and doctoral studies.

He noted that some students opted for doctoral programmes after failing to gain admission to professional courses or after being unsuccessful in competitive examinations, leading to a mismatch between aptitude and academic pursuit.

Singh remarked that students neither became PhDs by choice nor by aptitude nor because of an attachment to the subject, but because they needed a job. He said such a trend had weakened the culture of research excellence in the country.

He said India was gradually transitioning from a degree‑centric system to one that placed greater emphasis on aptitude, innovation and problem‑solving abilities. He credited the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with laying the foundation for this transformation.

According to the Minister, the reforms introduced under the NEP were expected to encourage students to make career choices based on their interests and capabilities rather than social expectations or employment compulsions.

Predicting a major shift in India's research ecosystem over the next decade, Singh said the country might eventually produce fewer PhD graduates, but those who pursued doctoral studies would be academically stronger and more committed to their disciplines.

He said the number of PhDs might reduce in the coming years, but qualitatively they would be far superior because they would be driven by aptitude, commitment and genuine interest in research.

Drawing a comparison with leading international institutions, Singh recalled a conversation with a former Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, who had praised the contribution of Indian students to research abroad.

However, he noted that in many advanced research ecosystems, doctoral studies were pursued primarily by individuals deeply committed to academic inquiry rather than by those seeking alternative career paths.

The Minister said India's ambitions to become a global innovation leader required a stronger research culture that prioritised quality over quantity. He linked the issue to the government's broader efforts to promote startups, innovation and scientific excellence.

Highlighting recent achievements, Singh said India had emerged as the world's third‑largest startup ecosystem, with more than 2.3 lakh startups generating nearly 25 lakh jobs. He also pointed to the country's improved standing in the Global Innovation Index, rising patent filings and increasing indigenous research output as indicators of a changing innovation landscape.

At the same time, he said traditional perceptions of career success continued to influence students and families, often discouraging unconventional paths in research, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.

Calling for a change in mindset, Singh urged parents, educators and academic institutions to support aptitude‑driven career choices and create an environment where research was pursued with passion rather than compulsion.

— IANS