When Vande Mataram was presented in Indian Sign Language (ISL) at this year’s Sign Language Day event in New Delhi, it was more than a ceremonial performance. It showed how a familiar part of public life can be made accessible through a visual language. But the larger story lies elsewhere. Alongside the ISL rendition, the event brought out a range of new resources, for young children, school students, readers, teachers, interpreters and people accessing educational content online. Together, they point to an effort to take ISL beyond specialised spaces and into more routine parts of life.

India had about 50.7 lakh people with hearing disability, according to the 2011 Census. The figure includes people who were deaf as well as those with difficulty hearing. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has called for ISL to become part of “everyday citizenship”, so that deaf people can take part in public life without communication barriers, said Additional Secretary Manmeet Kaur Nanda.

A Child’s First Lessons

Some of the new material begins at the earliest stage of education. “Sanket Vatika” visual books have been introduced for children aged 3–6. There is also new teaching material for courses that prepare ISL interpreters and teachers. For schoolchildren, ISL videos now cover content from 14 textbooks for Classes 1–6. The material includes 100 personalised adaptive learning videos. Concept-based videos have also been prepared for Classes 9–12.

The idea is to build resources across different stages of schooling rather than leave gaps as children move from one level to another.

More Than Classroom Material

The move into ISL is also reaching books. Three hundred National Book Trust titles have been made accessible in ISL. They include stories, biographies and historical accounts.

The ISL Dictionary has also been expanded into 11 more languages. The stated goal is to eventually cover all 22 Scheduled Languages. For a language to be used widely, its vocabulary has to travel with it. The expansion of the dictionary is one part of that process.

Taking ISL to the Screen

ISL content is now being live-streamed through PM e-Vidya Channel 31 using direct encoder-based streaming. That puts educational material in a format that deaf viewers can access through a dedicated ISL channel, rather than having to rely only on spoken content.

Digital resources and translated material cannot cover every interaction. There is still a need for people who can interpret between ISL and spoken languages. At the event, DEPwD Joint Secretary Rajeev Sharma spoke about the growing demand for ISL interpreters across different fields.

The new teaching material for the Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation and Diploma in Teaching Indian Sign Language courses is part of this effort. It points to a practical challenge: making information available in ISL is one part of access. Having enough trained people to support communication is another.

What this Looks Like in Ordinary Life

The ISL version of Vande Mataram may have been one of the more visible moments at the event. But the changes taking place in classrooms, books and digital learning are closer to the everyday experience of deaf people.

For a young child, it could mean learning a new word from a picture book in ISL. For a student, it could mean following a lesson in a language they understand. For a reader, it could mean picking up a story, biography or history book in ISL. And for someone who needs to communicate directly, it could mean having an interpreter to help bridge the conversation.

Taken together, these efforts are about making ISL useful beyond a classroom or a special occasion, as a language through which deaf people can learn, read, find information and take part in public life. That is what this year’s Sign Language Day, themed “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights”, sought to put into focus.

Job readiness for students requires more than academic qualifications. These seven career sutras offer a practical guide to building skills, experience, adaptability and confidence for the transition from college to work.

College life is an exciting time. It is your chance to explore, learn, grow, and get ready for the future. Today’s workplace is changing rapidly, so a degree or qualification alone is not enough. Research on graduate employability consistently identifies transferable skills, career self-development and adaptability as important components of career readiness. Here are some guiding principles, or “sutras,” to help those still in college, or those just out of college and looking for work, get ready for their careers.

Sutra 1: Be a Learner First, a Job‐Seeker Later

The most important skill is learning how to learn. Studies show that employers look for graduates who can adapt, reflect, and manage themselves. Treat “how I learn” as a project. Ask yourself: What helps me focus? How do I review material? How do I handle tough topics?

• See each assignment as more than just a task to finish. Think about how you got to your answer, what was hard, and what you might do differently next time.
• Think of your degree or educational qualification as a starting point, not the end. At work, you will need to learn new tools, ideas, and technologies quickly. Recent studies highlight that being willing to keep learning is a key quality for getting hired.
• Read deeply, not just quickly. Summaries, extracts, and quick explanations are everywhere now, and they can quietly replace the habit of sitting with a full article, a chapter, or a difficult argument long enough to actually work through it. What you read closely today becomes the vocabulary and the reference points you reach for later, in interviews, in writing, and in decisions. Treat at least some of your reading each week as something to sit with, not something to get through.

Sutra 2: Build Transferable Skills—Communication, Adaptability, Problem Solving & Teamwork

Many studies show that while technical knowledge is important, the skills that really make you stand out are useful in any job. For example, communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving are among the top skills employers worldwide look for.

• Work on clear communication. Try writing emails, speaking in groups, or explaining your ideas to someone unfamiliar with the subject.
• Look for team projects, either in class or outside, where you can practice working together, sharing roles, and solving disagreements.
• Take on problems without clear answers, such as hackathons, case studies, or social issues. This helps you get used to uncertainty and think about how you solve problems.
• Keep a journal about your skills. Write down when you worked in a team, what went well, what did not, and what you will try next time.

Sutra 3: Develop Digital and Contextual Awareness

Workplaces today are more digital, global, and often a mix of in-person and remote. It is not just about coding, but also about using digital tools, working remotely, and understanding different situations.

• Get comfortable with at least one digital tool important to your field, such as collaboration software, data visualisation, or version control.
• Stay curious about your field. What new technologies are coming up? How are organisations changing?
• Try working on remote teams or giving virtual presentations. These are becoming normal, even for people just starting out.

Sutra 4: Create Meaningful Learning-Work Bridges

Doing well in your studies matters, but employers also want to see that you have linked what you learn to real-world experience. Research on work-integrated learning (WIL) shows it improves communication, professional attitude, transferable skills, and digital literacy.

• Look for internships, short projects, volunteer work, or chances to work with industry, even if they are informal.
• When you get real-world experience, take time to reflect. What was useful from your studies? What surprised you? What will you change next time?
• Pick courses or extra credits that include industry projects, applied work, or client assignments. These experiences help you prepare for work.

Sutra 5: Cultivate Self-Efficacy, Adaptability & Career Agency

Skills matter, but you also need to believe you can use them, adjust when things change, and guide your own path. Research shows that confidence and adaptability are strong predictors of getting hired.

• Grow your confidence by slowly taking on new roles. Try leading a small team, organising a campus or community event, or presenting your work in public.
• Be open to feedback, mistakes, and changes. Being adaptable means you can switch direction when needed.
• Take charge of your career story. Be ready to answer questions like “Why this field?”, “What do I offer?”, and “What kind of changes are happening in the field/s and how do I prepare myself?” Do not wait for someone to ask—practice saying it out loud.

Sutra 6: Align with Interests, Values & Purpose

Getting a job is just the start. It is also about growing, thriving, and finding work that matters to you. Skills are important, but so are purpose, ethics, and a sense of who you are as a professional. Studies show that students who reflect, connect their work to their values, and contribute to society often do better.

• Take time to reflect often. What kind of work excites you? What is important to you in life and at work?
• Pick activities or small projects that connect you to causes, communities, or challenges you care about.
• Always keep ethics and professionalism in mind. How you act and your attitude toward others matter more than you might think.

Sutra 7: Design Your Launch Plan

You are getting close to starting your career. Now is the time to make a plan—not just to get a job, but to launch your career.

• List the roles, industries, or jobs you want. What do job postings ask for? Compare your skills to what employers want—research shows there’s often a gap.
• Set small goals. Update your CV/résumé or LinkedIn profile, complete a project or earn a certificate (nowadays, many free, useful courses are available online), talk to three alumni in your field, visit a company, or publish or present your work.
• Keep track of your progress. Use your skills journal and review each month what you have done and what you plan to do next. This habit of thinking about your learning is linked to better employability.
• Think of each class project, team meeting, internship conversation, hackathon, virtual presentation, or online collaboration as an encounter, not just an event to get through. An encounter is something you actually engage with, not something that simply happens to you while you wait for the next milestone. What separates two students with similar opportunities is often not the opportunities themselves but whether each encounter got noticed and recorded, or passed by unremarked. Your skills journal makes that noticing visible, and visibility is what makes it usable later.
• Find one mentor you keep returning to, not just people you meet once. A single relationship you can bring your documented encounters back to, someone willing to ask harder questions than you would ask yourself, is worth more than a wide list of one-time contacts. Revisit that conversation on a regular rhythm, not only when something has gone wrong.
• Grow your network. Go to industry talks, join student groups, and connect with mentors. Building relationships can open doors.

Final Thoughts

Moving from student to professional is not a straight path. It is more like a winding road where you try things, learn, adjust, and grow. By following these seven sutras, you build a strong base for employability—not just for your first job, but for a meaningful and lasting career.

There is a name for what this record becomes over time: Enacted Career Identity. Who you are professionally is not decided in advance or captured by the story you tell in an interview. It emerges through the encounters you choose, the work you pursue, and the experiences you keep documenting, year by year, until the pattern becomes recognisable as who you are. That is what makes the story in Sutra 5 worth believing: a field may carry little meaning on its own, but a documented trail of encounters can give it real significance.

The record also does more than support an interview answer. Read over time, it reveals the kinds of work that genuinely engaged you—not simply what you thought you should pursue—and can point towards the environments where you are most likely to thrive. It becomes evidence for further study too, showing a pattern of curiosity and choice that a transcript alone cannot. And revisiting it later can give new meaning to experiences that once seemed ordinary or difficult.

Start today. Every assignment, team project, and extra role is a chance to build your skills. With intention, reflection, and action, you will be ready when opportunities come your way.

What does a skilled worker look like in 2026? The answer is becoming harder to fit into the old categories. At the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai this month, Indian competitors will take part in 63 of 64 skills. For the first time, India will enter 11 categories, including unmanned aerial systems, aircraft maintenance, intelligent security technology, software testing, optoelectronic technology and digital interactive media design. Nearly 70 competitors will represent the country.

The list is revealing. It includes jobs that sit at the intersection of several disciplines: mechanics and electronics, healthcare and precision manufacturing, software and quality assurance, aviation and advanced diagnostics. Drones are no longer simply flying machines; they are becoming tools in agriculture, infrastructure and public services. Security systems increasingly rely on sensors, AI-enabled surveillance and automated responses. Optoelectronics has applications ranging from healthcare to communications and advanced manufacturing.

For India, this raises a question that matters well beyond a competition in Shanghai: are the country’s workers being prepared for the jobs that industries are beginning to need?

A Different Kind of Skills Shortage?

India’s employment conversation often swings between two extremes—too few jobs for a large young population, and too few people with the skills employers want. Both can be true. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 63% of workers in India will require training by 2030. About 12% are not expected to receive the upskilling they need, representing more than 70 million workers.

The pressure is coming partly from technology. Indian employers expect AI and machine learning, big data and security-related roles to grow rapidly over the coming years. They also anticipate greater demand arising from developments in areas such as computing, semiconductors and quantum technologies.

But technological change does not create only jobs with “AI” or “data” in their titles. It changes the work done by people in existing occupations. An aircraft maintenance worker, for example, may now need to understand increasingly complex electronic and mechanical systems. Industrial technicians are working with machinery that requires more sophisticated diagnostics. Agricultural workers and infrastructure teams are beginning to use drones. Software products need people who can test them systematically before they reach users. That is reflected in the new WorldSkills categories.

The Technician is Changing Too

The popular image of the technology worker is still largely that of a programmer sitting behind a screen. India’s new skills list tells a broader story. Heavy Vehicle Technology requires advanced diagnostic, repair and maintenance capabilities. Industrial Mechanics involves precision assembly, troubleshooting and optimisation of complex machinery. Aircraft Maintenance demands expertise across mechanical, electrical, fluid and structural systems. Software Testing requires workers to examine whether digital products function reliably.

These occupations are not replacing technology with human labour. They are occupations being reshaped by technology. As machines become more capable, the people who install, maintain, inspect, test and troubleshoot them become more important too. A factory may become more automated, but somebody still has to understand what happens when an automated system stops working. A drone can collect agricultural data, but somebody has to operate it, interpret its output and deal with what the machine cannot.

The skills shortage, therefore, is not confined to India’s technology sector. It is spreading into the technical occupations that support a technology-heavy economy.

Degrees may not tell the whole story

There is a related change taking place in how employers think about talent. The World Economic Forum reports that around 30% of companies in India expect skills-based hiring including removing degree requirements—to help address talent shortages. Globally, that figure is 19%. For young workers, that could prove consequential.

A qualification still matters. But in occupations where technology changes quickly, employers also need to know what a person can actually do. Can they diagnose a machine? Test software? Work with a drone system? Maintain an aircraft? Operate sophisticated equipment safely? That is where vocational and technical education becomes relevant to India’s much larger employment question. The issue is not whether vocational training should compete with university education. It is whether young people have enough routes into specialised work—and whether those routes are connected to what employers actually need.

India’s WorldSkills preparation is being supported by training institutions, industry partners and domain experts, including organisations working across manufacturing, software, retail, heavy industry and dental technology. That industry connection may be more important than the competition itself.

What happens after the medals?

India’s performance at international skills competitions has improved considerably. It rose from 29th at WorldSkills in 2015 to 13th in 2024 and ranked eighth in Asia at WorldSkills Asia 2025. But medals are a narrow measure of a country’s skills capacity. The larger question is whether specialised training reaches beyond a relatively small group of competitors.

Can an ITI student in a smaller Indian city access training in technologies that employers will need five years from now? Can a worker already in a factory retrain when the machinery changes? Can training institutions update equipment and curricula quickly enough? And will employers pay a premium for the skills they say they cannot find?

Those questions matter because India’s demographic advantage depends partly on what happens to its workforce after people leave the classroom. The WorldSkills categories offer a useful snapshot of where some of that work is heading. They bring together aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, software, security and drones—fields that once belonged to separate training systems.

That may be the most interesting part of India’s participation in Shanghai. The future of work is not arriving as one new profession. It is appearing inside existing ones, quietly changing what a mechanic, technician, designer, tester or maintenance worker is expected to know.

For millions of young Indians entering the labour market, that shift may matter far more than who takes home a medal.