Sanjeev Sanyal Calls UPSC "Waste of Time," Pushes AI-First, Skills-Led Education
Economist Sanjeev Sanyal is calling for a reset of India's education priorities. His core point: move from degree-first thinking to skill-first, AI-enabled learning that plugs directly into industry.
For people building programs, curricula, and student pathways, this isn't a small tweak. It's a different operating model.
AI Over Lectures: The Delivery Model Has Changed
Sanyal argues that AI is "vastly superior" at delivering lectures compared to traditional universities. Content delivery is no longer the bottleneck; access and personalization are solved problems.
If lectures are a commodity, institutions need to shift their value to mentorship, projects, apprenticeships, and assessment integrity. That's where human-led education still wins.
UPSC And Degree-First Paths: His Take
In his strongest comment, Sanyal called the pursuit of UPSC roles "a complete waste of time" today. He notes it may have made sense in the 1960s, but technology has changed work and opportunity structures.
- Old mental model: degrees and exams = job stability
- Current reality: skills, portfolios, and adaptability = employability
Agree or disagree, his message to educators is clear: stop optimizing for credentials alone. Optimize for capability.
Skilling vs. Tertiary Education: The Line Has Blurred
Historically, "skilling" meant trades, while university meant intellectual advancement. That wall has fallen. Software, data, automation, and product work reward hands-on builders more than passive learners.
Sanyal points to NIIT's role in feeding India's software sector as proof that practical, tech-focused training can outperform traditional degree pathways at scale.
His Proposed Framework
- Start work at 18 through apprenticeships and entry-level roles.
- Earn degrees alongside work instead of before it.
- Adopt online-first learning with remote, proctored assessments.
- Prioritize industry-relevant skills over academic credentials.
He also cites builders like Sridhar Vembu and Elon Musk as examples of non-traditional paths that compound results through real-world execution.
What Educators Can Do Now
- Convert lecture time into applied labs, sprints, and capstones with industry partners.
- Ship AI modules across the curriculum: prompt work, automation, data analysis, coding copilots, and content generation ethics.
- Stand up apprenticeship pipelines using the official portal: Apprenticeship India.
- Adopt remote-first assessment with strict proctoring, oral defenses, code reviews, and project audits.
- Measure outcomes on placement, portfolio quality, and skill assessments-not seat time.
Faculty And Infrastructure: Practical Shifts
- Upskill faculty in AI tools and workflows; bring in adjuncts from industry for current practice.
- Standardize tool stacks: AI writing and coding assistants, analytics platforms, LMS-integrated proctoring.
- Create micro-credential ladders that stack into degrees based on demonstrated skill.
- Replace outdated electives with industry co-created modules updated each term.
On Social Life And Campus Experience
Sanyal notes the "college experience" is a relatively recent norm and shouldn't be the justification for keeping outdated delivery models. Community can be built through cohorts, maker spaces, hackathons, and alumni networks-on campus or hybrid.
The Bottom Line
AI won't replace educators; it will replace lecture dependency. Institutions that shift to mentorship, projects, apprenticeships, and rigorous assessment will win student trust and employer demand.
If your graduates can ship, they'll get hired. If they can learn fast with AI, they'll advance.
Helpful Links
- UPSC official information: upsc.gov.in
- Apprenticeships setup: apprenticeshipindia.gov.in
- Build AI skills for staff and students: Complete AI Training - Latest AI Courses
Note: This article summarizes Sanjeev Sanyal's views and recommendations as reported in a recent interview. His statements reflect his perspective on where education should go next.
Your membership also unlocks:
