Answer

Introduction

India is home to one of the world’s largest youth population with over 800 million below 35 years of age, which is often projected as a growth enabler. However, if this youth remains undereducated, unskilled or unemployable, the dividend risks becoming a demographic time bomb

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Role of Education in Shaping Social Mobility

• Breaking Intergenerational Poverty : Access to quality education allows children from poor families to move into better-paying professions
  Eg: Rise of first-generation engineers / doctors from rural backgrounds.
• Enhancing Employability : Degrees in modern disciplines open entry into high-value sectors.
  Eg: Graduation in computer science, data analytics became necessary for jobs in the IT sector.
• Reducing Social Inequality : Policies like Right to Education , Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and affirmative action have enabled dalits and marginalized groups to enter professional sectors.
• Women’s Empowerment : Education has increased women’s participation in the workforce.
  Eg: PLFS data shows that Female Labour Participation Rate has increased from around 23% (2017-18) to 41 % in 2023-24.
• Fostering Aspirations & Social Change : Exposure to education creates aspirations beyond subsistence work, encouraging rural youth to join urban/global careers.

Mismatch between education and employability threatening demographic dividend

• Outdated Curriculum: University curricula often lag behind 21st century industry needs.
  Eg: Engineering programs focusing on theory with less exposure to AI or data science applications.
• Rote Learning & Lack of Practical Skills : Graduates often lack problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills valued by employers.
  Eg: The Graduate Skill Index 2025 shows only 43% of graduates are job-ready.
• Vocational Training Deficit : Limited and uneven vocational training left industries short of skilled technicians.
• Degree-Skill Disconnect : Societal pressure prioritizes degrees over competencies. Many pursue irrelevant courses, worsening underemployment.
• Jobless Growth & Informality : Even during GDP growth, insufficient jobs in the formal sector force educated youth into informal low-wage work.
• Technological Disruption : Significant numbers of jobs will be automated or disappear . Without re-skilling, millions risk unemployability.
  Eg:  According to McKinsey, 70% of jobs in India face automation risk by 2030. 

Way Forward

• Curriculum Reforms : Rapidly update curricula to align with Industry 4.0/5.0 and AI-driven economy.
• Skill Integration : Blend vocational training with mainstream education. promote apprenticeships and industry-academia collaboration.
• Career Guidance Framework : Institutionalize counseling in schools to broaden career awareness beyond traditional fields.
• Digital & Lifelong Learning : Promote re-skilling, cross-skilling, and EdTech platforms for continuous upgradation.
• Women & Marginalized Inclusion : Enhance female participation and invest in Tier 2 & 3 innovation clusters to ensure inclusive mobility.

Conclusion

India stands at a demographic crossroads  where it can either transform its youth bulge into a productive workforce or risk it becoming an unemployed liability. As Lant Pritchett asked, “Where has all the education gone?”, the answer lies in aligning education with employability, aspiration with opportunity, and technology with humanity. 

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