Why Saurabh Mukherjea advises quitting after 12th: "A construction worker earns twice..."

Saurabh Mukherjea, founder and CIO of Marcellus Investment Managers, has scathingly attacked the Indian education system, calling it “ratta maaro and regurgitate in the exam”. In the podcast, Mukherjea argued that in a fast-growing economy, the top earners may not be college graduates, but students who enter the workforce immediately after high school.

Mukherjea argued that learning in India continues to revolve around memorization rather than critical thinking. Describing the prevailing approach, he said the system was built on “changing learning”, or as he put it, “ratta maaro and regurgitate in the exam”.

Such methods, he says, leave students ill-prepared for industries transformed by artificial intelligence, electric cars, biotech, cleantech and other advanced fields.

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He further stated that India is failing to provide students with the skills needed for today’s fast-growing economy.

“Forget AI, we can see in the data itself”

Pointing to employment figures, Mukherjea argued that the problems faced by graduates are already visible in the labor market.

“Forget AI, we can see in the data itself,” Mukherjea said.

He argued that graduate employment outcomes remain poor, adding: “Out of every 100 college leavers, only three get a job in the year they graduate.”

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He further stated that unemployment among graduates is significantly higher than among graduates with little or no formal education. “In India, you’re better off not going to university,” Mukherjea said, describing higher education as a process of “rattification” rather than meaningful skill development.

Does the problem start before college?

The investment manager argued that the system’s flaws begin long before students enter college.

“You don’t even spend your school years thinking. Even the school system focuses on ratto and regurgitation,” he said.

In his view, the emphasis on memorization stifles innovation and prevents students from developing the analytical skills needed in modern industries.

Why is India struggling in emerging sectors?

Mukherjea indicated that the country’s educational shortcomings are also reflected in its performance in high-end industries.

“Na toh hum AI mein hain, na EV mein, na biotech mein, na cleantech mein,” he said, arguing that India has yet to build a strong position in several frontier sectors shaping the future global economy.

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According to Mukherjea, recruitment trends indicate that employers are increasingly questioning the added value of university degrees.

Referring to his book The Tipping Point, he said some of India’s highest earners are individuals who have completed Class 12 and entered the workforce instead of higher education.

Can construction workers earn more than graduates?

To illustrate his point, Mukherjea cited examples from the Mumbai labor market. He argued that many graduates seeking office jobs may earn less than workers in skilled manual occupations.

“A construction worker earns twice as much,” he said, adding that operators of heavy machinery such as JCBs can command even higher wages.