ABSTRACT
Over the last decade or so, India has emerged as a major player in the global market and organizations in India have undergone a transformation in their HRD processes and practices. With a headcount of 1.2 billion people, and half of its residents between 20 to 30 years of age, India is being considered an emerging talent powerhouse, predicted to be among the world’s five largest economies and viewed by investors, businesses, and tertiary education providers as a land of opportunity (Budhwar and Varma 2011, Pio 2007, Rao and Varghese 2009). Clearly, this transition calls for a closer look at how global competitiveness and the changing Indian economic scenario have interplayed to transform the value of human capital and hence the perception of HRD in India. While the rapid growth of the Indian economy is unparalleled in its scope and impact on HRD in India, a closer look will also inform us about the key HRD challenges and opportunities still needing urgent attention in the current political and economic context of the country.
