ABSTRACT : India's demographic dividend presents significant opportunities for sustainable economic growth; however, persistent skill gaps between graduate competencies and labour market requirements continue to constrain productivity, employability, and economic competitiveness. This study examines the role of higher education in bridging the skill gap by promoting human capital development through curriculum reforms, industry-academia collaboration, digital learning, and skill-oriented policies such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Skill India Mission. Using a descriptive qualitative approach based on secondary data, the study explores both the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating skill development into higher education. The findings indicate that while skill-oriented reforms can strengthen employability, labour productivity, innovation, and inclusive economic growth, their implementation is hindered by inadequate infrastructure, limited industry engagement, regional disparities, and resource constraints. The study concludes that strengthening higher education through skill-based reforms is essential for enhancing human capital, improving labour market outcomes, and achieving sustainable economic growth in India. It also proposes strategic policy measures to better align higher education with the evolving needs of the economy.
Khan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.