Senior Secondary School Education: The Backbone to Prepare Students for Academic Success in Higher Education

At this moment total population of India is near about 121.09 million (2011 census report). A large portion of the Indian population is unemployed, 7.93% in urban areas and 7.44 in rural areas (CMIE on 1st March 2023). India is undoubtedly a land of opportunity with millions of aspirants competing for a handful of seats. The number of candidates appearing for different competitive exams is increasing rapidly. To differentiate the deserving applicants from the rest for various esteemed institutions and job positions, an egalitarian method was devised to select deserving candidates, which is now deemed as competitive exams. With the rapidly changing technological scenario in the context of ever-increasing global connectivity as well as competitiveness in modern times, the role of technical education in economic development has become very significant and challenging. Also, as a consequence of intensive technological developments, the concerns of sustainability, environmental degradation, resource depletion, and inclusive growth have become more relevant. The need for well-qualified engineers/ professionals is more critical with complex problems that affect the quality of life of everyone, everywhere for businesses seeking well-rounded engineers and professionals who face global challenges. Further, the concerns about making the educational curricula and training more conducive to the national needs are becoming a top priority.