Working with many Indian 'engineers', i can say we'd be better off if there were fewer of them. Their typical approach to software development is proverbial. I know there are good ones, but they mostly run their own outsourcing shops, or are already in the U.S.
Maybe education is to blame in part, but mostly it's because of poverty. In a first world country, one can pursue a lot of occupations ending up with nearly same living standard - so the choice depends on one's attitude. If a guy is a U.S. programmer you can be sure he does it because he likes hacking, there is little reason to go there otherwise, a lot of occupations get the same living, or better. In India there is little one can do except getting a non-commoditized job for an export-oriented business, which mostly means engineering. So crowds of people are struggling to get these diplomas simply out of greed, with no passion for what they are supposed to do. I don't think this can be fixed until India pulls itself out of poverty to give people more career choice.
Maybe education is to blame in part, but mostly it's because of poverty. In a first world country, one can pursue a lot of occupations ending up with nearly same living standard - so the choice depends on one's attitude. If a guy is a U.S. programmer you can be sure he does it because he likes hacking, there is little reason to go there otherwise, a lot of occupations get the same living, or better. In India there is little one can do except getting a non-commoditized job for an export-oriented business, which mostly means engineering. So crowds of people are struggling to get these diplomas simply out of greed, with no passion for what they are supposed to do. I don't think this can be fixed until India pulls itself out of poverty to give people more career choice.