Youth Empowerment

Recently, the Indian Prime Minister launched youth-focused initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. 

• The Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment also launched the MY Bharat Mobile Application, an online Youth Leadership and Social Engagement Platform. 

About Recently Launched Initiatives

• National Initiatives:
  • PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs): 
    • Objective: Modernize and upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs across India in a hub-and-spoke model, integrating industry partnerships to enhance employability and bridge the skill gap.
    • Key Features:
      • Hub-and-Spoke Model: 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs connected, creating clusters equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern trades, digital learning systems, innovation centres, incubation units, and placement services.
      • Industry Collaboration: Government-owned but industry-managed ITIs with anchor industry partners to ensure outcome-based skilling aligned with market demands.
      • Financial Outlay: ₹60,000 crore with co-financing support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
      • Trainer Development & Digital Integration: 50,000 trainers to be trained, with digital learning platforms for remote access.
      • Focus Areas: First phase emphasizes ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga, aligning with Bihar’s youth-centric interventions.
    • Expected Outcomes:
      • Skilling 20 lakh youth in high-demand sectors.
      • Strengthening of MSMEs with access to job-ready candidates.
      • Enhancement of India’s global skill competitiveness.
  • Vocational Skill Labs in Schools: 1,200 labs in Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Residential Schools across 34 States/UTs, offering training in 12 high-demand sectors and training 1,200 vocational teachers.
• Bihar-Centric Initiatives:
  • Mukhyamantri Nishchay Svyam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana: ₹1,000 monthly allowance for 2 years to 5 lakh graduates annually, plus free skill training for education-to-job transition.
  • Interest-Free Student Credit Card Scheme: Loans up to ₹4 lakh for higher education; 3.92 lakh students benefited with ₹7,880 crore disbursed.
  • Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University: Focus on industry-oriented and vocational courses to build a globally competitive workforce.
  • Bihar Yuva Ayog: Statutory body (18–45 years) to promote employment, skills, and entrepreneurship.
  • Higher Education & Infrastructure: ₹160 crore for facilities in 4 universities—Patna University, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya, and Nalanda Open University— (benefiting 27,000 students); NIT Patna Bihta campus with 5G lab, ISRO Space Centre, Innovation Hub.

About Youth

• Definition: The United Nations, for statistical purposes, defines ‘youth’, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years, without prejudice to other definitions by Member States. 

• According to the National Youth Policy (2014), youth are aged 15–29 years, forming a demographically significant group capable of driving inclusive growth, nation-building, and socio-economic progress.
• India’ Demographic Dividend: India is currently in its demographic dividend phase, which is a period where a large working-age population (15-64 years) supports a smaller dependent population, leading to increased economic growth potential.
  • India has the largest youth population in the world, with about 65% of its people under the age of 35.

Significance and Multi-Dimensional Impact of Recent Youth Initiatives

• Harnessing Demographic Dividend: India’s youth-centric policies aim to convert its large young population into a long-term national asset, tapping into innovative, entrepreneurial, and leadership potential.
• Skill Development and Employability: Programs like Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (PM-SETU) enhance industry-aligned skills, reduce job-market mismatches, and prepare youth for emerging sectors including AI, Machine Learning, and Industry 4.0.
• Inclusive Growth and Regional Equity: Targeted interventions in Bihar and other underdeveloped regions aim to bridge socio-economic disparities, fostering equitable access to education, skill development, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Entrepreneurship Promotion: Integration of vocational education, incubation centers, and start-up support encourages self-reliance, cultivates a start-up culture, and contributes to AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
• Governance and Institutional Dimensions:
  • Federal Structure: Cooperative and competitive federalism enables central-state synergy, with central schemes like PM-SETU complementing state-specific initiatives.
  • Inter-Ministerial Coordination: A cohesive framework across Youth Affairs and Sports, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Labour and Employment, and Education ministries reduces duplication and fragmentation.
• Social and Cultural Dimensions:
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing: Rising stress, unemployment, and digital immersion necessitate expansion of initiatives like Tele-MANAS, mental healthcare infrastructure, and de-stigmatization campaigns.
  • Inclusivity and Equity: Policies must target Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), LGBTQ+ individuals, differently-abled, and marginalized communities to ensure equitable participation.
  • Social Capital and Community Engagement: Platforms like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS), and National Youth Corps (NYC) cultivate civic responsibility, volunteering spirit, and community resilience.
  • Youth Identity and Values: Initiatives such as MY Bharat foster patriotism, secularism, social justice, and ethical leadership, complementing economic empowerment.

Challenges Faced by Indian Youth

• Education Quality and Skill Deficit: India’s education system struggles with poor learning outcomes, underqualified teachers, and outdated curricula. 
  • ASER 2023 shows that 25% of 14–18-year-olds cannot read Class II text. Graduates often remain ‘paper qualified’ but unemployable, with WEF 2020 reporting only 20% of engineers employable.
• Mismatch with Modern Economy: Education and vocational training fail to align with emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data, and Industry 4.0, resulting in a gap between taught skills and industry requirements.
• Regional and Social Disparities: Opportunities are metro-centric, leaving rural and tribal districts underserved. Gender, caste, and socio-economic inequalities restrict access to education, skilling, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
  • Educational Gaps in Tribal Areas: Tribal literacy rate at 58.96% is well below the national average of 72.99%.
  • Economic Hardship: Over 46% of indigenous communities live below the poverty line, leading to migration due to lack of local employment and skill development.
  • Caste-Based Educational Inequality: Marginalized communities face systemic barriers in education and employment, perpetuating social stratification.
  • Gender Inequality in Higher Education: Women encounter multiple challenges across education, employment, income, and social mobility.
  • Intersectionality of Caste and Gender: Women from marginalized castes face compounded obstacles in accessing education and employment opportunities.
• Declining Engagement with Education: School enrollment has dropped by 20.7 million in two years (UDISE+ 2023-24). Education is increasingly seen as unattractive, despite incentives like the Midday Meal Scheme, affecting long-term skill development.
• Risk of Social Discontent: A large youth bulge (65% under 35) coupled with unemployment and frustration increases vulnerability to extremism, criminal recruitment, and social unrest. Historical trends indicate high conflict risk in countries with >60% population under 30.
• Institutional and Political Weakness: Weak governance, corruption, and divisive politics undermine youth potential. Leadership deficits in politics and administration reduce opportunities for active youth participation in nation-building.
• Digital Age and Social Isolation: Excessive social media use and digital immersion can lead to mental health issues, social isolation, and reduced interpersonal skills. Online misinformation, cyberbullying, and unhealthy comparison also affect motivation and career choices.
  • Suicide is now among the top causes of death among Indian youth aged between 15 and 29 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, India’s suicide rate in 2021 was 12.6 per 1,00,000, significantly higher than the global average of 9.2.

Way Forward

• Integrated Skill and Education Approach: Combine higher education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship to provide holistic youth development. Programs like PM-SETU should ensure alignment with industry requirements and emerging technologies such as AI, ML, and renewable energy.
  • Example: Germany’s Dual Education System combines vocational training with industry exposure, producing job-ready graduates.
• Decentralized and Region-Specific Focus: Tailor schemes to district and state-level needs, ensuring regional equity. Focus on under-served rural, tribal, and backward districts to bridge urban-rural disparities in education, skills, and employment opportunities.
• Public-Private Partnerships for Practical Training: Leverage industry collaboration to provide hands-on skill training, placements, and mentoring. Anchor Industry Partners in hub-and-spoke ITI clusters can ensure market-aligned and outcome-driven skilling.
  • Example: South Korea’s Youth Employment Programs demonstrate government-industry collaboration aligning skills with labor market needs.
• Digital and Technology Integration: Use digital learning platforms, AI-based skill assessments, and online mentoring to scale initiatives nationwide. Promote digital literacy and responsible usage to prevent social isolation, misinformation, and cyber risks among youth.
• Gig Economy Preparedness: Ensure skill development programs like PM-SETU and PMKVY equip youth for freelancing, temporary contracts, and emerging sectors in the digital economy.
• Monitoring and Outcome-Based Implementation: Establish robust evaluation mechanisms for all youth-focused programs to ensure effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. Introduce Youth Opportunity Indexes and district-level performance metrics to track results.
• Inclusivity and Equitable Access: Prioritize women, marginalized communities, and tribal youth to ensure equitable participation. Expand interest-free loans, scholarships, and stipends, enabling access to education, skill development, and entrepreneurship.
• Promote Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship: Invest in innovation hubs, incubation centers, and research facilities within educational institutions. Encourage start-ups, MSMEs, and youth-led enterprises to nurture creativity, problem-solving skills, and globally competitive talent.
  • Example: UN SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) emphasizes youth employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development as a global standard for sustainable growth.

Conclusion

The ₹62,000 crore youth-focused initiatives reflect India’s commitment to harness its demographic dividend. By integrating education, skills, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure, India aims to foster self-reliance, inclusive growth, and sustainable development, making the youth the engine of national progress.