Acharya Prashant addresses the issue of educational institutions becoming mere placement agencies, explaining that this phenomenon is rooted in popular culture. He states that institutions do not lie at the root of culture; rather, it is the culture that gives rise to institutions, which then, in a cyclical manner, reinforce that culture. Since we establish our institutions, they inevitably reflect our collective mindset. For instance, students attend premier institutions like the IIMs primarily for placements, and the rankings of these institutions are also determined by their placement records. If an institution were to guarantee no placements, it would attract no students, which reveals the underlying demand of the people. The speaker asserts that the prevailing philosophy of our times is not that of a student but of a "wannabe consumer," driven by the desire to acquire, consume, and accumulate. This consumerist mindset is reflected in all our institutions, including family, marriage, art, and science. An institution might have a motto like "Knowledge gives humility," but the students' interpretation is "Knowledge gives placement." If knowledge does not lead to a job, it is deemed useless. This is the ground reality that institutions must cater to. To counter this, Acharya Prashant speaks of the need for a grassroots change in culture, which can be initiated by a visionary establishing an institution specifically designed to transform the culture. He mentions his own online university as an effort in this direction. He explains that the lack of spiritual subjects in school curricula stems from a general lack of understanding and respect for spirituality among policymakers, who often conflate it with religious dogma. He argues that the major problems of today, such as climate change, are crises of consumption, greed, and insensitivity, which can only have spiritual solutions. Technology can provide tools like nuclear weapons but cannot impart the wisdom to avoid their use. He concludes that we are foolishly depriving our youth of the only real help available: the spiritual wisdom found in scriptures like the Upanishads and the Gita. Our current education system has become dangerously anti-life because it discourages reflection and the understanding of our own existence. According to him, a human being is truly alive only when they can reflect and understand. The upbringing of a child is a serious responsibility, and it is crucial to expose them to diverse experiences and facts about the world, including history, geography, and political ideologies, to foster a habit of inquiry. This cultivated habit of inquiry is an insurance against a lot of nonsense.