U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday (May 23, 2026) a deal with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” with the proposal including opening the crucial Strait of Hormuz, though the agreement was “subject to finalisation.” “An Agreement has been largely negotiated
A person who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing at officers has died, according to federal officials. The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement late on Saturday (May 23, 2026) that, according to a preliminary investigation
After spending 35 years at , consumer chief marketing officer is preparing to leave the company following the end of its next fiscal year, according to an internal memo as reported by Business Insider.Mehdi told employees he would remain at Microsoft until June 2027 to support the company
Pakistani woman says corporate culture makes employees feel guilty for taking leave: ‘Rest needs justification’A Pakistani woman said corporate jobs made employees feel guilty for taking paid leaves they were allowed to use. Published on: May 24
This crunchy veggie rice paper pancake is the perfect quick-fix snack for sudden hunger cravings at home: Full recipeFrom crispy edges to flavour-packed bites, try this veggie rice paper pancake recipe for an ultimate comfort snack for lazy evenings. Updated on: May 24
Amazon techie earning ₹11 lakh/month has 1 house in US, 4 properties in India, Range Rover — but no emergency fundAn Amazon employee earning close to $300,000 feels financially insecure despite significant savings and investments. Published on: May 24
Rare lung transplant at Apollo saves a life; spotlight on India's organ donor shortageRare lung transplant at Apollo saves a life; spotlight on India's organ donor shortage Published on: May 24, 2026 10:33 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, A year ago, every breath felt borrowed
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.These countertop organisers, crockery pick and jars can give your kitchen a Pinteresty spin by keeping the clutter awayTurn your kitchen into a photo-ready space with stylish organisers
AI Can’t Replace Human Touch: Why Soft Skills Are Now Critical In BFSI Jobs
AI Can’t Replace Human Touch: Why Soft Skills Are Now Critical In BFSI Jobs
By Dr Soumyadip Roy
For many years, educational credentials were seen as the principal means for people to achieve career success. The world of work has changed, and it is more challenging to uphold this measurement of what is required to be 'employable' in the workplace. For example, an aspiring graduate eager to enter the BFSI domain may have a strong academic record and the technical skills necessary for the job, but employers now seek candidates who can build relationships, critically think through complex problems, and adapt to an emerging and quickly changing workplace.
The Limits Of A Degree
If institutions do not provide these necessary soft skills and interpersonal skills, there will be a significant gap between what the academic learning structure provides and what prepares students for success in the workplace. Degrees are no longer enough to be on the hiring list; today companies value those who balance a good degree with job-ready skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork, among others.
It is assumed that higher education equips students with these essential skills; but findings from academic and industry reports say otherwise, this needs more attention and structured development.
The Employability Gap Widens
According to India's Graduate Skill Index 2025, a comprehensive study by Mercer | Mettl on the employability of India's graduates, it was reported that only 42.6% of graduates who apply for jobs are employable, a number that has dropped from 45% in 2023. There exists a significant gap between what is taught in academic institutions and what the contemporary workplace demands. While our institutions are teaching theory and imparting technical know-how, the Indian job market demands practical skills that make students real-world ready.
BFSI: A Sector Under Pressure
The situation becomes even more pronounced in certain critical sectors—Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) being a prime example. In the financial world, every role is ultimately customer-facing. Even beyond sales, BFSI professionals are required to engage with customers, critically solve their problems, maintain relationships, and carry out operations. According to a report by the BFSI Sector Skills Council, teamwork, people management, communication, product knowledge, and technical know-how are some of the most important skills a BFSI professional must possess.
This skill gap is more pronounced in students from non-metros. In many cases, students already possess the technical foundation, but they cannot get employed simply because they have poor communication and interpersonal skills. Institutions in small towns lag further behind major urban institutes in terms of soft skills and exposure to real-world workplace experiences.
The Human Edge In An AI World
In a time when AI can replicate many technical skills and functions, human skills – soft skills – such as empathy, communication, flexibility, adaptability, and critical thinking are the true indicators of employability in today's workplace. It is now necessary that students take more initiative outside of their institution to upskill themselves for jobs based on what would help them become employable, rather than on what is simply required of them in the formal curriculum.
ALSO READ: Why Learners Must Learn To Work With AI, Not Against It
For example, it is recognised that it is important for graduates and aspiring professionals to build strong communication skills, and train themselves to be agile and adaptable so they can remain resilient against industry changes. For institutions, it is crucial to train students with real-world simulations, customer roleplays, and mentorship sessions so they are first-day, first-hour productive.
Beyond Banking
Swipe Left For Next Video
Today, a BFSI professional is not merely a banker or insurance provider. Society looks upon them as advisors and financial managers. Even with AI's integration in everyday banking, customers continue to place greater trust in their relationship managers than in a machine. For India's next generation of BFSI professionals, investing in soft skills is no longer optional, it is the bridge between being job-ready and future-ready.
(The author is an Associate Professor & In-Charge Director at Manipal Academy of BFSI. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.)
Source: News18
Related Posts: I was seen as a dinosaur but not many managers moan about set-pieces now CERT-In issues advisory after data breach of 16 bn credentials Login credentials of 149 million accounts including Gmail 149 million credentials exposed from Facebook Login credentials of 149 mn accounts including Gmail How the Trump-Xi summit could set superpower relations for many years to come Cardiologist says smoking for years does not mean quitting won’t help your heart Dream11 exits IPL jerseys as teams sign new principal sponsors Delhi's St Stephen’s College appoints first woman principal in 145-year history Birla Estates signs on as Gujarat Titans’ principal sponsor for IPL 2026
Indian athletics witnessed a historic evening in Ranchi as Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian ever to breach the 8000-point barrier in decathlon at the Federation Cup on Saturday. The 27-year-old produced a sensational all-round performance to finish with 8057 points
11 hours ago
The Centre released draft rules for the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 for public consultation. The rules focus on governance, grievance redressal, and transitioning from MGNREGA to the new rural employment scheme
11 hours ago
The National Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has warned of a sophisticated phishing campaign impersonating Apple tech support to target whose devices have been lost or stolen, officials said on Saturday.The I4C, which functions under the Union Home Ministry
11 hours ago
Sachin Tendulkar praised his son Arjun's IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants. Arjun Tendulkar showed patience and skill in his first match. He bowled well and took a wicket. Sachin Tendulkar expressed pride in his son's performance and attitude
11 hours ago
White House shooting suspect claimed to be ‘real’ Osama bin Laden, threatened Trump online: ReportOsama bin Laden was the founder and leader of the terror group Al-Qaeda, which was reportedly responsible the 9/11 attacks. Updated on: May 24, 2026 11:02 AM IST By Anita Goswami Share via Copy
11 hours ago
May 24, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 24, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: May 24, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 24
11 hours ago
George Russell may have delivered the perfect answer to mounting pressure at Mercedes. After a fiery sprint race clash with championship-leading teammate Kimi Antonelli earlier on Saturday, the Briton bounced back in style to grab pole position for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix — edging the
11 hours ago
BJP candidate Debangshu Panda is leading significantly in the Falta assembly constituency repoll. After five rounds of counting, Panda has secured a lead of over 14,000 votes against his CPI(M) rival. The repoll followed allegations of EVM tampering and irregularities during the initial polling
11 hours ago
The suspect in a shooting near the White House was killed in an exchange of fire with Secret Service agents on Saturday evening, officials have confirmed. BBC's US media partner CBS has named the suspect as Nasire Best, a 21-year-old man who was known to the Secret Service and had a documented
11 hours ago
CPI(M) MP raises concerns over CBSE's digital evaluation, seeks interventionCPI(M) MP raises concerns over CBSE's digital evaluation, seeks intervention Published on: May 23, 2026 5:22 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, The Rajya Sabha leader of the CPI, John Brittas
11 hours ago
Imagine enjoying a decadent, fudge‑like treat that also supports your hormones, libido, and menstrual rhythm, all while being packed with collagen, magnesium, adaptogens, and lignan‑rich omega‑3s. These Seed Cycling Hormone Bliss Balls are designed around the simple yet powerful practice of
11 hours ago
Weekly Love Horoscope for May 24-30, 2026: The stars brings positive energies for these zodiac signsWeekly Love Horoscope for May 24-30, 2026: This week asks for patience, trust, and emotional resilience. Published on: May 24, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Love feels
15 hours ago
Perhaps the fullest realisation of what Mohamed Salah has achieved at Liverpool will only come with time. But as he prepares to say his goodbyes on Sunday, there is plenty to appreciate and admire in the here and now. There are the standards Salah helped to set that emanated through the club in his
15 hours ago
From a darkly comic tale of revenge to a beautiful contemplation on friendship, here are the year's most acclaimed works of fiction so far. "Daring, deranged, cleverly written," is how Vogue describes the buzzy debut by Caro Claire Burke. In this satirical thriller
14 hours ago
Jaipur real estate: Ashiana Housing has launched the first phase of its 10.35-acre residential project ‘Ashiana Oma’ in Ajmer Road at Mansarovar Extension Ashiana Housing will invest nearly ₹560 crore to develop a residential project in Jaipur
15 hours ago
Overnight fires in Delhi: Shops, homes gutted in four blazesA fire department officer was injured after the tin shed of one of the shops he was standing on during the firefighting operation collapsed. Updated on: May 24, 2026 7:37 AM IST By Karn Pratap Singh Share via Copy link Four separate fire
14 hours ago
As per the government, the new rules enable families living in Delhi to submit applications if their annual household income is within the newly prescribed limit. New Delhi: The Delhi government has reopened the process of issuing fresh ration cards under changed eligibility criteria after a gap of
15 hours ago
The reported disruption of AI-animated film Critterz after OpenAI allegedly shut down Sora has sparked a larger conversation around one major issue in tech and entertainment: what happens when creators build entire projects on platforms they do not control?The reported disruption of AI-animated
15 hours ago
Ex-Meta employee says non-Chinese workers were targeted for layoffsA laid-off Meta engineer has alleged that he was routinely excluded and ostracised by his Chinese colleagues at the company. Updated on: May 24, 2026 7:01 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link A laid-off Meta engineer has alleged
14 hours ago
Mackenzie Shirilla wanted Kim Kardashian's help; here's why it's not happeningMackenzie Shirilla sought Kim Kardashian's legal support following the release of The Crash documentary, but Kardashian reportedly has no plans to get involved. May 24, 2026
14 hours ago
The first scientific survey of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded 57 individuals, confirming that the species is widely distributed and actively reproducing across the reserve’s floodplains
15 hours ago
X warns founder against reuploading White House shooting video: 'Revenue reduced by 90%'Nikita Bier of X warned a user against reuploading the White House shooting video, asking him to ‘Quote’ or ‘Video Reshare’ instead. Updated on: May 24, 2026 6:14 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
Sonam Wangchuk says Article 371 talks for Ladakh still ‘work in progress’; backs Cockroach Janta PartySonam Wangchuk hoped constitutional safeguards will be granted to Ladakh after recent talks between Ladakh groups and the Centre. Updated on: May 24
14 hours ago
Talking about international partnerships, PM Modi said India’s growing ties with global companies and countries would create new opportunities for young people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly recruited candidates during the 19th Rozgar Mela
15 hours ago
The Archaeological Survey of India’s circular in December on tourist guides at Red Fort has opened a larger debate: who gets to interpret the past? The circular states that only guides licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and endorsed by the Archaeological Survey of India may offer services inside
15 hours ago
Dipika Kakar’s father-in-law in ICU after suffering stroke, Shoaib Ibrahim seeks prayers: ‘24 hrs are crucial’Shoaib Ibrahim took to Instagram to inform fans that his father has been hospitalised once again after suffering another stroke. May 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Oleksandr Usyk struck lucky to retain his world heavyweight titles in Egypt with a highly controversial 11th-round stoppage win against boxing novice Rico Verhoeven. Verhoeven, in just his second professional boxing fight, was the clear aggressor for long spells
15 hours ago
