The problem with India’s blocking of the Chinese
Context
The allocation of more visas to Chinese technicians by Indian authorities is a significant development, highlighting the reliance of Indian businesses on foreign expertise, particularly from China.
- This issue underscores the broader challenges facing India’s industrial and educational sectors, as well as the urgent need for technical assistance to bridge the skill gap.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is the Issue?
- Need to Rely on Chinese Technicians
- Why Integrate Foreign Knowledge?
- Is India Not Self-Sufficient?
- Reality in India
What is the Issue?
- Indian businesses, across sectors like footwear, textiles, engineering, and electronics, have purchased advanced machinery from China. However, these machines often lie idle due to the lack of skilled technicians who can operate them effectively.
- Chinese professionals are sought after because they bring a level of productivity and expertise that is currently lacking in Indian factory supervisors and workers.
- Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, acknowledged this skill gap, emphasizing the urgent need for Chinese technicians to boost productivity and fulfill export orders.
- Despite the government’s positive stance on issuing more visas, there is a significant backlog and intensive screening of Chinese professionals, driven by national security concerns. This cautious approach risks undermining the initiative to integrate essential foreign expertise into India’s industrial framework.
Need to Rely on Chinese Technicians
- The reliance on Chinese technicians is rooted in their high productivity and deep expertise, developed over 40 years as China emerged as a global manufacturing hub.
- Chinese experts are not only highly skilled but also more affordable compared to their Western counterparts.
- Indian businesses argue that Chinese professionals can significantly enhance productivity, helping them to produce more with the same resources. This is particularly crucial for industries where technological advancements and efficiency are key to competitiveness.
- The Engineering Export Promotion Council of India and industry leaders have repeatedly called for more visas for Chinese technicians, stressing that without their expertise, many machines remain underutilized, and export orders are left unfulfilled.
- Even major industrial players like Gautam Adani’s solar manufacturing facility are awaiting the arrival of Chinese workers to commence full-scale operations.
Why Integrate Foreign Knowledge?
- Integrating foreign knowledge is critical for India’s industrial growth. Historical evidence from East Asian economies demonstrates that foreign expertise can drive development when combined with a solid domestic educational foundation.
- Countries like South Korea and China have successfully leveraged foreign knowledge to propel their industrial capabilities.
- In the 1980s, South Korea imported foreign machinery to reverse-engineer and develop their own technologies, building on a robust educational system. China, starting with a weaker educational base, focused on enhancing primary education and attracting foreign investors willing to share global knowledge. This strategy enabled China to become the world’s manufacturing hub.
- India, on the other hand, has struggled with a weak educational system that has failed to equip its workforce with necessary skills. Despite increasing school enrollments and building infrastructure, Indian education has not effectively prepared students for the demands of the global economy.
- Stanford University’s Eric Hanushek highlights that only 15% of Indian students possess basic reading and arithmetic skills, compared to 85% of Chinese students. This stark disparity underscores the urgent need for foreign technical assistance to bridge the skill gap.
Is India Not Self-Sufficient?
- The concept of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” or self-reliant India is often invoked to promote indigenous manufacturing. However, the irony lies in the fact that India’s economic growth increasingly depends on foreign expertise, particularly from China.
- The reality is that India’s education system has not kept pace with the demands of modern industries. The quality of education, particularly in primary and secondary schools, remains poor, leading to a workforce that is inadequately prepared for technical roles.
- Chinese universities, especially in fields like computer science and mathematics, are among the world’s best, contributing to China’s advances in various applied sciences. China’s investment in education and research has positioned it at the forefront of global technology. In contrast, India’s educational institutions struggle with quality and relevance, hindering the country’s ability to develop a skilled workforce.
Reality in India
- India’s current state of education and workforce development presents significant challenges. Surveys of learning outcomes reveal that Indian schools are failing to provide students with essential skills.
- The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) evaluations show that Chinese students consistently outperform their global peers, while India’s performance remains dismal.
- Despite these challenges, there are pockets of excellence, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). However, even graduates from these prestigious institutions face difficulties in securing jobs, highlighting the limited capacity of India’s higher education system to meet the demands of the job market. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the vulnerabilities of India’s education and employment sectors, with many IT professionals moving to gig economy roles due to a lack of opportunities.
Way Forward
To address the issues highlighted above, India needs a multifaceted approach:
- Enhancing Education Quality: Improving the quality of primary and secondary education is crucial. This involves investing in teacher training, updating curricula, and implementing effective assessment systems. Learning from successful models in other countries can help in designing strategies that work for India.
- Leveraging Foreign Expertise: Easing visa restrictions for foreign experts, particularly from China, can provide immediate relief to industries struggling with skill gaps. A balanced approach that addresses national security concerns while facilitating the entry of essential technical personnel is necessary.
- Filling Skill Gaps: Developing vocational training programs and partnerships with foreign educational institutions can help bridge skill gaps. These programs should focus on practical skills and industry needs, ensuring that graduates are job-ready.
- Strengthening Higher Education: Enhancing the quality and reach of higher education institutions is vital. This includes improving infrastructure, fostering research and innovation, and encouraging collaboration with international universities.
- Promoting Innovation: Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship can drive economic growth and job creation. This requires a supportive ecosystem that includes access to funding, mentorship, and a culture that values creativity and risk-taking.
- Addressing Policy Gaps: Policymakers must address gaps in the current system, such as the disconnect between education and industry needs. Regular dialogue between industry leaders and educational institutions can help align curricula with market demands.
- National Security and Economic Growth: Balancing national security concerns with the need for economic growth is essential. Clear guidelines and transparent processes for screening foreign experts can help address security issues without hindering economic progress.
Conclusion
India stands at a critical juncture where the integration of foreign expertise and the enhancement of domestic education are pivotal for its industrial and economic growth. Addressing the skill gaps through a combination of improved education quality, strategic use of foreign knowledge, and fostering innovation can help India realize its potential.
- The urgency to act is underscored by the global Red Queen race, where nations must continuously innovate and improve to stay competitive.
- India’s future prosperity depends on its ability to learn from successful models and implement reforms that address its unique challenges.
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