Years ago, whenever I told anyone that I wanted to study sociology, the response was always the same: And what will you do with that degree? It is a question that has bugged every humanity and arts graduate at some point in time. However, with time, ideas have changed, preferences have evolved and the assumption, that a degree must springboard into a career is no longer the norm. This assumption for a very long time sustained the traditional Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education, but what people do not tell you is that employers today are looking for skills that this basket of traditional education falls short of supplying with. In India too, the higher education is reflecting tumultuous shifts with area studies programs in particular gaining precedence among the youth. Area studies programs offer exciting avenues for students to explore new visions for the discipline one that advocates greater pluralism, diversity and critical reflections. Area studies, in general, embodies a tradition that is deeply rooted in the understanding of the complex patterns of political economic cultural and social changes that constitute and are constituted by the globe today. With a grounding in social sciences and humanities these new-age programs provide the students with the opportunity to study a geographical region from a variety of perspectives and grant them the space to be theoretically and methodologically innovative. While appraising the area studies program, it is important that attention is paid to the area studied, where it is studied and more importantly how it is studied. Flipping through the websites and brochures of numerous area studies programs in Europe and in other parts of the world, one could discover that these programs are mainly cantered on the geopolitical aspects, issues of governance and policy and rarely discuss the cultural, literary, and educational contributions of the area studied. However the courses should aim in providing a holistic learning experience rendering a unique opportunity to study. It should let students the graduates of European Studies who thrive off knowledge gained from interdisciplinary perspectives can go on to apply their talent in a vast range of roles, working across the border while contributing to the home host and global economy. With the expanding competitive global employment market it is not just the theoretical knowledge but also the value-added century skills displayed by the graduates that redefine the recruitment criteria today. Addressing the Ministerial Conference on Women Empowerment in Gujarat on August underscored the critical role played by women in fostering inclusivity and driving positive change. Pointing out that when women prosper the world prospers, the Prime Minister underlined that economic empowerment of women fuels growth, and their access to education drives global progress. Their leadership fosters inclusivity, and their voices inspire positive change he added. He underlined that the most effective way to empower women is through a women-led development approach, pointing out that India was making huge strides in this direction. Situation in India as regards empowerment of women Applauding the remarkable contribution made by women in India across various domains.