From Dreams to Reality: Toprankers’ Udaan Opens Doors for Underprivileged Students

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering underprivileged students with career guidance, Toprankers Udaan has partnered with leading corporate clients to bridge the gap between education and employability. High school students can use Toprankers Udaan, a specialized career guidance and counseling platform, to make well-informed professional decisions and develop thorough career plans. For students who are marginalized in India in particular, this program is essential in closing the gap between education and employability.

Through collaborations with NGOs and CSR partners such as JK Lakshmi Cement, Honda India Foundation, Lumax Charitable Foundation, Perfetti Van Melle India, and Buddy4Study India Foundation, Udaan is making quality career counselling accessible to students across rural India. This initiative addresses the lack of career awareness and provides students with the tools and resources needed to pursue higher education and secure better career opportunities.

Many high school students in rural India face significant barriers to continuing their education. According to UDISE+ 2021-22 data, the dropout rate at the secondary level stands at 12.6%. Additionally, the Gross Enrolment Ratio for higher education among individuals aged 18-23 was only 28.4%. The urgency to earn, coupled with limited career awareness, often leads students to opt for low-skilled jobs with minimal educational requirements, such as daily wage labor or clerical work. Consequently, many miss out on more fulfilling and financially rewarding careers.

Even among college graduates, employability remains a challenge. Our current Union Sports & Youth Affairs Minister reported that the employability rate of Indian graduates in 2024 is 54.81%. Furthermore, the unemployment rate for youth aged 15-29 increased to 16.1% in Quarter 3 of the Financial Year 2024-25, according to the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS). This data highlights the urgent need for comprehensive career guidance and preparation programs to help students make informed decisions and improve their employability.

Udaan is Toprankers’ dedicated Career Guidance & Counselling Platform designed to help high school students from Class 8 to 12 make informed career choices and create comprehensive career plans. The platform’s mission is to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality career guidance that leads to upward mobility.

Udaan offers a hybrid process that includes:

●      Group Career Guidance Sessions: Conducted both online and offline, these sessions provide valuable insights into various career options.

●      One-on-One Career Counselling Sessions: Personalised counselling sessions help students identify their interests, strengths, and career preferences.

●      Psychometric Tests: These assessments evaluate students’ aptitudes and personality types to guide them toward suitable careers.

●      Access to Online Resources: Students can explore course videos, assessments, and a comprehensive career library through an online portal.

●      Pre and Post-Program Assessments: These assessments measure the program’s impact on students’ career awareness and decision-making abilities.

For students pursuing careers in fields like Law, Management, Humanities, Hospitality, Design, Science, and Teaching, Udaan also offers entrance exam preparation through Toprankers’ specialised modules and merit-cum-means scholarships provided in collaboration with corporate partners.

Since its inception, Udaan has provided career guidance and counselling to over 62,500 students across 24 states in India. Approximately 74% of these students created comprehensive career plans after participating in the program. In long-term projects, the initiative has significantly improved college enrolment rates. For instance, in one project that began in 2021-22, the college enrolment rate for girls increased from 57% to 94% by 2023-24. This remarkable impact demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in encouraging students to pursue higher education and aspire for better career opportunities.

Corporate clients play a crucial role in the success of Udaan. By funding career guidance and counselling programs for students in rural areas, these companies help address the root causes of low career awareness and high dropout rates. The collaboration also benefits corporations by enhancing their brand goodwill and fostering stronger relationships with their employees and local communities.

CSR initiatives like these demonstrate a company’s commitment to social impact, which can improve employee engagement and attract socially conscious talent. Moreover, supporting students’ educational journeys aligns with the long-term goal of creating a more skilled and employable workforce, ultimately contributing to India’s economic growth.

Reflecting on the program’s impact, Mr. Aditya Bose, Product Owner, Udaan by Toprankers, said:“As someone who has had the honour and pleasure of both delivering and managing these programs, I have experienced first-hand the joy that students feel when they gain clarity about their career choices. Seeing these students progress in their careers and support their families is incredibly rewarding. Every year, I hear stories of students who once considered daily wage labor now thriving as engineers, business administrators, social workers, and entrepreneurs. I look forward to partnering with more NGOs and CSR initiatives to further this impact.”

Through collaborations with corporate clients and NGOs, Toprankers’ Udaan is breaking barriers and creating pathways for underprivileged students to achieve their career aspirations. By providing career guidance, exam preparation, and scholarship opportunities, Udaan is empowering students to dream bigger and build brighter futures. As more organisations join this mission, the collective impact will continue to drive positive change and uplift communities across India.