NITI Aayog has highlighted that around 8.7 crore young Indians are currently not engaged in education, employment or training, underlining the need for stronger efforts to expand opportunities for the country’s youth.
The findings point to the challenge of ensuring that young people remain connected to education, skill development and the labour market. The issue is particularly important as India has one of the world’s largest young populations and seeks to leverage its demographic advantage for economic growth.
The report emphasises the importance of improving access to quality education, vocational training, apprenticeships and employment opportunities. Better coordination between educational institutions, industry and government programmes can help young people acquire skills that match changing labour-market requirements.
Strengthening career guidance, expanding skill-development initiatives and creating more opportunities for workplace-based learning could also help reduce the number of young people outside education, employment and training.
The NITI Aayog assessment highlights the need for sustained policy efforts to ensure that India’s young population is equipped with the skills and opportunities required to participate meaningfully in the economy and contribute to the country’s development.
