EMBRACE AI BY MASTERING FOUNDATION SKILLS, ECONOMIST RAKESH MOHAN TELLS GRADUATES AMID INDIA’S RAPID MACRO TRANSFORMATION

RANCHI: Asserting that fundamental human capabilities like critical thinking and problem-solving remain indispensable in the age of Artificial Intelligence, renowned economist and former central banker Rakesh Mohan delivered a compelling charge to the graduating class of 2026 at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukerjee University.

Addressing graduates, faculty, and state dignitaries—including Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar Mohan reframed the global debate surrounding the utility of higher education versus vocational skills. He urged the more than one crore students graduating annually across India to look beyond their immediate career anxieties and prepare for a lifetime of continuous adaptation.

The Enduring Value of Foundation Skills

In an era dominated by technological disruption, Mohan directly challenged critics who claim traditional college degrees have lost their relevance.

“Technology may transform almost every profession,” Mohan stated, emphasizing that foundational skills like clear writing, text comprehension, basic mathematics, and unfamiliar problem-solving remain the bedrock of productivity, even when utilizing AI.

“These are basic skills that are enduring and will remain critical… You will always need the ability to do critical thinking, problem-solving and to adapt continuously as the world changes,” he said

Drawing from his own fluid career—which transitioned from electrical engineering to urban economics, and eventually to monetary policy and central banking—Mohan illustrated that the modern workforce demands intellectual agility.

“Many of tomorrow’s vital roles do not exist today,” he noted, urging students to view graduation not as the end of education, but as a transition where they must become their own teachers.

India’s Macro Transformation and Local Realities

The address highlighted India’s sustained macroeconomic expansion, noting an average annual GDP growth rate of approximately 6.5% over the past 35 years. Mohan contextualised this growth by tracking the rapid development of Jharkhand since its founding in 2000:

* Literacy & Education: Female illiteracy in Jharkhand dropped from two-thirds at the turn of the century to one-third today. Nationally, college enrollment out of school surged from 8% to nearly 33%, with women comprising half of that student population.

* Rural Connectivity: The construction of 32,000 kilometres of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has revolutionised agricultural supply chains, allowing farmers to bypass manual transit and access wholesale markets directly.

* Infrastructure & Mobility: Rural household electricity connections in the state skyrocketed from 10% in 2000 to over 90%, running parallel to a digital revolution that has placed global business and communication onto mobile devices.

Addressing Chronic Headwinds: Malnutrition and Poverty

Despite these structural milestones, Mohan maintained a candid tone regarding India’s persistent developmental challenges, particularly within the public health sector.

He drew sharp attention to child stunting—or short height-for-age—which affects more than a third of children under five in Jharkhand. While this marks a significant decrease from the 50% stunting rate recorded in 2000, Mohan classified it as a severe manifestation of chronic malnutrition.

Furthermore, he warned that an inadequate public healthcare system forces citizens to rely on expensive private practitioners, creating a volatile economic cycle. “If illness strikes, families often slip below the poverty line due to relatively large expenditures on health,” Mohan observed, explaining that this serves as a major macroeconomic drag by depressing the consumer spending that keeps the economy moving.

A Call for Public Purpose

Closing his address, Mohan reminded the Class of 2026 that India’s aspiration to become a fully developed nation relies on citizens who balance personal ambition with public purpose.
“Reputation is accumulated slowly and lost quickly for both individuals and nations. Protect yours,” Mohan warned, challenging the graduates to let their future conduct define the ultimate value of their degrees.