The human capital formation in India faces several challenges, including:
Population Growth: The rapid increase in population negatively impacts the quality of human capital formation. It diminishes the per capita availability of existing resources, necessitating substantial investments in education and health. This results in a diversion of limited funds from physical capital to the production of human capital.
Long-Term Process: Human development is a prolonged process as skill formation requires considerable time. The slow nature of the process contributes to challenges in producing a skilled workforce.
Regional and Gender Inequality: The existence of regional and gender disparities undermines human development levels, hindering the overall progress.
Brain Drain: The migration of highly skilled labor, commonly referred to as “Brain Drain,” has detrimental effects on economic development as valuable human capital relocates to other regions or countries.
Lack of On-the-Job Training in Agriculture: The neglect of the agriculture sector results in insufficient on-the-job training for workers to adapt to emerging technologies.
High Poverty Levels: A significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line, lacking access to basic health and educational facilities. This economic disparity limits the affordability of higher education and essential medical treatments.
Low Academic Standards: Despite the widespread presence of educational institutions, there is a concern about the quality and academic standards. The production of a large number of graduates and post-graduates is marred by deficient skills, leading to inefficiency and reduced productivity.
Deficient Manpower Planning: India grapples with the challenge of graduate unemployment, reflecting a lack of effective manpower planning. The imbalance between demand and supply of labor has not been adequately addressed, resulting in underutilization of human resources and hindering economic growth.
Objective Type Questions
1. What is a consequence of rapid population growth on human capital formation in India?
a) Increased per capita resources
b) Improved physical capital investment
c) Diminished quality of human capital formation
d) Enhanced workforce skills
Answer: c) Diminished quality of human capital formation
2. Why does the long-term nature of human development pose a challenge in India?
a) Limited government support
b) Quick skill formation
c) Challenges in producing a skilled workforce
d) Overemphasis on physical capital
Answer: c) Challenges in producing a skilled workforce
3. What does “Brain Drain” refer to in the context of human capital challenges in India?
a) Migration of unskilled labor
b) Import of skilled workforce
c) Internal migration for education
d) Migration of highly skilled labor
Answer: d) Migration of highly skilled labor
4. What contributes to the lack of on-the-job training in the agriculture sector in India?
a) Technological advancements
b) Government initiatives
c) Neglect of the agriculture sector
d) Sufficient workforce skills
Answer: c) Neglect of the agriculture sector
5. What is a consequence of low academic standards in India’s educational institutions?
a) Increased productivity
b) Efficient manpower planning
c) Reduced skills among graduates
d) Balanced demand and supply of labor
Answer: c) Reduced skills among graduates