On December 10, New Delhi, LatestNewsX reported that India hosts the largest youth cohort in the world – about 371 million people aged 15 to 29, or roughly 27 % of the total population. This “demographic dividend” can be a powerful engine for growth if the workforce is expanded and dependency ratios are lowered.
Yet unlocking that potential hinges on a stronger job market. The Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows that the unemployment rate for 15‑to‑29‑year‑olds fell from 17.8 % in 2017‑18 to 10.2 % in 2023‑24. PLFS, conducted each year from July to June by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, is the main source of India’s employment statistics.
Creating jobs and boosting employability are top priorities, handled through a collaborative effort among many stakeholders. The 2025‑26 budget laid out ten broad areas aimed at supporting the poor, youth, farmers and women. India also runs a Department of Youth Affairs that implements the National Youth Policy and other programmes to tackle social and economic challenges and nurture personal growth and nation‑building.
The National Youth Policy, 2025, envisions a country where every young person is empowered, healthy, skilled, socially responsible, and an active contributor to national development. It declares a vision “To synergize the hopes and aspirations of India’s youth with its development imperatives, enabling harmonious societal growth and harnessing youth energy for inclusive development, responsible governance, and the realisation of Viksit Bharat by 2047”.
In parallel, the Ministry of Labour and Employment operates the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, a one‑stop digital platform that offers job listings from both private and public sectors, details on official and unofficial job fairs, job matching services, career counselling, vocational guidance, and information on skill‑development courses and employability programmes.
Other ministries and government entities also launch initiatives to spur employment. Notable schemes include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana‑National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY‑NULM), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), and Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI).
Targeted projects such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU‑GKY), and Rural Self‑Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs) aim at specific groups. These programmes, coupled with higher capital spending, seek to raise employment levels, especially among young people.
The Skill India Mission (SIM) focuses on preparing youth for the future, equipping them with industry‑relevant expertise through a vast network of training centres and institutes. Within this umbrella operates the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) delivered via ITIs.
In rural areas, efforts to promote farming as a viable career path include the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)’s 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). These centres disseminate modern agricultural technologies through assessment, demonstration, and capacity‑building activities for local extension workers and farmers. Additionally, 100 KVKs are rolling out the Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) project. The Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) programme and the Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms (ATMA) – active in 740 districts – work together to create a decentralized, farmer‑friendly extension system.
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