India has talent and potential, Our education system must prepare students to be future-ready: AICTE Chairman

He said that technology, geopolitics, and climate-related challenges are reshaping the world in ways we have not seen before. In times like these, leadership must evolve. 

All India Council for Technical Education Chairman, Prof T. G. Sitharam has said that India’s higher education system must respond faster to the pace of global disruption.

Speaking at the PRISM-FIMC 2025 conference Sitharam warned that demands on future leaders are changing sharply. He said: “We are living in an era of unprecedented disruption. Technology, geopolitics, and climate-related challenges are reshaping the world in ways we have not seen before. In times like these, leadership must evolve. It is no longer about authority. It is about adaptability, responsibility, and the ability to work with others. India has the talent and potential to lead globally, and our education system must prepare students to be future-ready. As a nation, we must aim to create leaders who are ethical, resilient, and committed to building a sustainable and developed India by 2047.”

Prof Subir Verma, Director of FORE School of Management, said the day’s discussions underline why leadership has to be more aware of global realities and more grounded in social responsibility. He added that spaces where industry, policy and academia meet are essential for shaping India’s leadership capacities.

Niva Bupa MD & CEO Krishnan Ramachandran pointed out that clarity of purpose matters more during uncertain times. He said organisations that stay disciplined in execution and invest in strong teams manage disruption better, especially in sectors like healthcare where expectations change quickly.

Prof Sriparna Basu, Dean Academics, said that conference comes at a time when technological shifts, environmental stress and geopolitical turbulence are influencing decisions across sectors. She called for leaders who can think beyond short-term gains and understand how business, society and governance intersect.