Ahmedabad, 21st May, 2025 – As India’s fastest growing B school, we are compelled to stir up the conversations often ignored by mainstream narrative. We feel compelled to nurture our students and faculty to stay in touch with ground narrative. And we are compelled to act and build in extension of our ethos and truly contribute to the rise of Bharat in 2025.
We are not just a new age B school based out of Ahmedabad, we are the pioneers of this knowledge driven world, providing the best opportunities and exposure to individuals beyond the metros.
To stir up the dialogue, we conducted a webinar on “The Rise Of Bharat: Talent Beyond Metros” and invited thought leaders across industry. They were:
- Prachi Singhal – Chief People Officer | Tribastion Technologies
- Nishad Joshi – Tech Manager | EY
- Harshdeep Dhillon – General Manager | Sure Placements
In the opening remarks, Nishad Joshi, an HR professional and implementation expert, asked a perfectly timed question to the entire audience, “There’s a very famous monologue of Vir Das saying, ‘I come from two Indias’, so which India to you come from?”, and that set the tone for the entire webinar.
Towns Of India With Big Impact And The New Role Of Institutions
The webinar titled “Rise of Bharat: Talent beyond metros” saw panellists sharing anecdotes from their journeys and experiences in education and employment.
Prachi, an HR leader, shared her transition from Dehradun to western India, emphasizing that “intent matters more than just knowledge.” She underlined how students today are more aware, more driven, and have access to tools and exposure that were once limited to urban elites.
As per a report published by datareportal in February 2025, India counted 806 million internet users, with penetration at 55.3% of its 1.46 billion population. Crucially, 62.9% of Indians still live in rural areas, and internet growth in these regions is outpacing urban centres two-to-one.
Harshdeep, who has been in and around industry-academia placements highlighted how connectivity has become the great equalizer post-COVID, opening doors for rural and semi-urban talent like never before. “There is fierce competition, but those from smaller towns often come with a deeper passion to change the legacy of their families”.
What he meant is that individuals coming from towns have a deeper sense of purpose, probably an added obligation to become something, support their loved ones and earn a reputation in their careers. All of this in turn becomes added fuel, builds a problem-solving mindset to pursue, perform and stay curious in their professional front making them better managers for any organizations.
Also, he noted that individuals coming from towns showcased a higher sense of loyalty and affinity towards their work and the company as well. They stick to one organization longer than those hailing from the metros. This is also one of the reasons why many companies prefer individuals who came stay with them longer as it is beneficial in multiple areas both for the individual and for the company.
Now, this dialogue does not undermine any individual’s potential basis their geographical affinity, instead it brings a fresh perspective of the rising India and where the current recruiters are eyeing their next managers.
In recent years, there has been a notable shift in recruitment strategies among Indian companies. Organizations are increasingly looking beyond metropolitan areas to tap into the rich talent pools of smaller towns and rural regions. This trend is driven by a combination of factors, including the desire for a more diverse workforce, cost efficiencies, and the recognition of the unique qualities that candidates from these areas bring to the table.
The discussion also examined the role of educational institutions. “B-Schools today play a crucial part not just in education but in building confidence and bridging students to corporate ecosystems,” said Prachi. The focus, according to the panel, should be on developing a problem-solving mindset, learning effective communication, and tapping into the consumer awareness of today’s students.
NBS Ahmedabad recognized this emerging shift towards smaller towns nearly two decades ago. Founded by an academician duo, we have engaged at the grassroots level and ascended to the top, witnessing the two Indias firsthand. We have always believed in the potential and loyalty of Bharat’s talent emerging from towns. Understanding the responsibility of cultivating the mindset in a knowledge driven world, we take proactive steps and initiatives to support our ethos and help students make the most out of their 2 years spent with us, beyond textbooks.
While textbook knowledge is important, we are observing a significant and adamant shift in the demands of recruiters to employ only practically exposed students and not just number toppers. Through our various portals like Alumni association of Narayana (AAN), Narayana centre for research and innovation (NCRI) and industry partners with NISM, EY, JITO JIIF, CII and many more, we are home to a 100% digital campus and ensure maximum exposure to students hailing from towns of India, often struggling to secure the right admission and the right B school. Our evaluation patterns go beyond just numbers and rather focus on the entire personality of the student.
Parting Thoughts On Embracing The Talent Of Bharat
The narratives shared by panellists emphasized a pivotal shift in India’s socio-economic fabric. Small towns and rural regions are no longer just passive participants but active drivers of change. Their stories serve as a clarion call for policymakers, educators, and businesses to recognize and nurture the immense potential that lies beyond the metros.
“Individuals from towns often have an added hunger to work. They have resilience, loyalty, and drive,” emphasized Vishal Tiwari, closing the session on an inspiring note.
We at NBS Ahmedabad emphasize on building an entrepreneurial mindset among these students, teaching them how to start a startup, providing initial support and the knowledge required. We do this in the hopes and beliefs that students coming from towns, after getting the best knowledge and exposure will go back to their towns and build there. This is turn will fuel the growth of tier 2 and tier 3 cities, eventually contributing to the rise of Bharat by the talent beyond metros.
