September 16, 2025

India churns out more engineers every year than the population of many countries! Around 1.5 million students graduate in engineering annually, with over six million studying across the nation. No country boasts such a huge pool of tech talent. Yet, when you ask young engineers why they chose this path, many simply say, “It’s safe.” This Engineers’ Day, celebrated every September 15 to honor the great Bharat Ratna M Visvesvaraya, it’s time to ask: is “safe” good enough for this giant talent pool? For a long time, engineering in India was seen as a backup plan, a safe bet if other options failed. But India’s dream to become a global leader means engineering can’t stay just a job. It needs to be a shared mission to build the country’s future. Think about it! From dams and steel plants that shaped modern India, to the IT boom in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, engineers have written India’s story. The rise of the software industry in the 1990s and 2000s wasn’t luck—it was driven by engineers coding and creating massive opportunities. Today’s startup heroes—Paytm, Zomato, Blinkit, Ola—they are engineers turning ideas into apps and services millions use daily. Despite their huge role, engineers often stay out of the spotlight. But they are the magic behind every industry. India aims to become a $25–30 trillion economy by 2047, and that dream needs more than just shopping and services. It calls for leadership in deep tech — fields like clean energy, space, and advanced computing. This year’s Engineers’ Day theme, “Deep Tech and Engineering Excellence: Driving India’s Techade,” captures this exciting challenge perfectly. Deep tech means using brilliant research to create real products—from smart energy storage to space missions and high-tech public systems. Will India grow while protecting the environment? Will it lead in space exploration? Will it move from just using tech to making tech? Engineers hold the key. But here’s the twist: we need to rethink how engineering is seen. It’s still seen mostly as a safe choice for jobs or a step to something else. Yet many engineers find their work thrilling, solving real problems and shaping society. Engineering lets individuals make a big difference in the nation’s journey. When students see it as a passion, and parents back them strongly, India wins. This Engineers’ Day should push freedom, support, and resources for young engineers to invent and take risks. Universities must fuel curiosity and startups, and leaders must build a system that rewards bold moves. Let’s give engineers the applause they deserve — the true builders of India. As Sir M. Visvesvaraya said, “even the smallest task, done with excellence, could uplift a nation.” That spirit should drive us today. India’s future won’t come from outside. It will be engineered by millions who choose to build, create, and lead. Engineering is not just safe—it’s India’s superpower for nation-building. (Author Naveen Jha is Global Director at Mehta Family Foundation (MFF). Views are personal.)

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Tags: Engineers' day, Engineering in india, Nation-building, Deep tech, Indian startups, M visvesvaraya,