Acharya Prashant addresses the issue of India's education system, linking it to the thriving coaching industry. He states that people open books not to gain knowledge, but to earn money, which is why coaching centers are flourishing. He refers to the Vice President's statement about these centers placing full-page ads in newspapers, questioning the source of this money and suggesting much of it is cash. He posits that the coaching industry has a vested interest in the formal education system remaining crippled. This, he claims, is facilitated by governments that need cash for elections. While acknowledging these are hard-to-prove matters that happen in the dark, he points out that since the issue is currently prominent, such discussions are happening in the media. The speaker argues that this system produces individuals like a senior IRS officer who, despite their position, do not understand climate change because they only studied what was necessary for the UPSC exam and then ceased learning. This leads to a society where public discourse is limited to trivial politics, such as whether one leader is great or another is a wrestler. He questions the notion of India being a 'Vishwa Guru' (world teacher), stating it is difficult to find a country that disrespects 'gurutā' (the essence of knowledge and teaching) more than India. He finds it hard to find a country that insults the very idea of a guru as much as India does. Acharya Prashant identifies the root of the problem in the low percentage of GDP spent on education, which he says is a reflection of the public's lack of respect for education itself. Since the government is democratic, it allocates funds based on what the people value. He asserts that Indians have a cultural tendency to prioritize belief and faith over facts and knowledge. Because education brings facts that can challenge and shatter long-held beliefs, it is not genuinely valued. This is a conscious choice, not ignorance. The speaker states that education is seen merely as a means to an end—a way to earn money for consumption—rather than for the sake of knowledge itself. This is why professional courses that lead to jobs are popular, while education for its own sake is neglected. He concludes that for India to progress, a cultural revolution is needed to restore respect for knowledge. He explains that education is the exploration of facts, and in India, there is a deep-seated love for belief and a hatred for knowledge because knowledge threatens belief. He says that we are not interested in education; we are compelled to accept it because it is necessary for our livelihood. For us, education is a means to earn money, which is then used to further our superstitions. He warns that hoping for wealth (Lakshmi) without respecting knowledge (Saraswati) is foolishness. The desire for consumption is what drives this flawed approach to education.