Kota: In a sharp critique of India’s growing coaching industry, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday called out the harmful effects of commercialised education, likening coaching centres to “poaching centres” and “black holes for talent” during his address at the 4th Convocation Ceremony of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Kota.
Speaking to graduating students, Dhankhar cautioned against the “assembly-line” culture promoted by coaching hubs, particularly in Kota, a city known for its competitive exam preparation industry. “Coaching centres are mushrooming. This is menacing for our youth, who are our future,” he said. “We must address this malice that is worrisomely concerning. We cannot allow our education to be so smeared and tarnished.”
He further stated, “Coaching centres have turned out to be poaching centres. They have become black holes for talent in regimented silos.” Highlighting the psychological cost of this system, Dhankhar said that such preparation often “robotizes” young minds and suppresses natural curiosity — a fundamental component of human intelligence.
The Vice President also criticised the massive expenditure on marketing by coaching institutes. “Money is poured into billboards and advertisements in newspapers. This money comes from those who either take loans or who painstakingly save to make their future brighter. This is not optimal utilisation of money. These advertisements are alluring, but they are eyesores to our civilisational ethos,” he remarked.
Raising concerns about the obsession with marks and standardised scores, he said the country must move away from the notion that education is only about perfect grades. “Seats are limited, but coaching centres are all over the country… Their thinking becomes completely stymied. A lot of psychological problems can arise out of it,” he warned.
Turning to the theme of technological nationalism, Dhankhar urged students and institutions to embrace digital sovereignty. “Nations will no longer be compromised or colonized by armies, as armies have now been replaced by algorithms. Sovereignty will not be lost through invasions, but through dependence on foreign digital infrastructure.”
He emphasized that “technological leadership is the new frontier of patriotism,” adding that India must reduce dependence on foreign-made digital systems, especially in critical sectors like defence. “If we get technology-driven equipment from outside… that country has the power to bring us to a standstill.”
Underscoring how cyber and digital warfare are now redefining global power, he said, “The battleground of the 21st century is no longer land or sea. Our prowess must now be determined by code, cloud, and cyber.”
