Dr. Kuldeepsingh Rajput
Youth are the backbone of any nation, representing its energy, innovation, and future potential. They bring fresh ideas, drive social and economic progress, and are vital for sustainable development. Educated and empowered youth contribute to a country’s growth by engaging in entrepreneurship, leadership, and civic responsibilities. Their active participation in political, technological, and environmental initiatives can lead to meaningful change. Investing in youth through education, skills development, and employment opportunities ensures a strong, dynamic workforce. A nation that nurtures its young population secures its future, as youth are key to overcoming challenges and building a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society.
India’s youth represent a dynamic force, central to driving the nation’s socio-economic progress and shaping its future. Youth aged 15 to 29 made up 27.2% of the population in 2021 (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, 2020). With around 360 million youth in 2019, India has the largest youth population globally—a demographic that will remain pivotal at least until 2030 (Sasikumar, 2019). This vast ‘youth bulge’ positions India at a critical juncture of its demographic transition. The country now stands at the peak of its ‘demographic dividend’ (Rajput and Jatav, 2022), presenting both a tremendous opportunity and a critical responsibility. Realising this dividend depends on the nation’s capacity to provide decent, productive employment and income-earning opportunities for its young population (Sasikumar, 2019).
Despite the demographic advantage, a pressing and increasingly visible concern is the rise in the number of youth who are not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET). The NEET trend reflects deep-rooted socio-economic and systemic challenges that hinder the full realisation of the youth’s potential. According to the International Labour Organization (2021), approximately 34.2% of youth in India fall into this category (ILO, 2021). The NEET phenomenon points to a complex interplay of factors. On one hand, limited access to quality and affordable education, particularly in rural and underprivileged areas, restricts opportunities for skill development. On the other, structural issues in the labour market—such as a mismatch between academic curricula and industry needs, lack of decent job opportunities, and growing informalisation, inadequate financial support, limited decent work opportunities, and the growing casualisation of jobs (Matsumoto, Hengge & Islam, 2012; ILO, 2013; Sahu & Kumar, 2021) leave many young people unable to secure gainful employment. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, disrupting education, widening the digital divide, escalating mental health concerns, and shrinking already limited job prospects (OECD & ILO, 2023). In particular, the shift to digital platforms has excluded vast sections of rural and economically weaker youth due to lack of access to technology and the internet, highlighting a deeply entrenched digital divide.
- The Gendered face of NEET Youth
Moreover, the NEET crisis is marked by stark gender disparities. While the proportion of female NEET youth has declined from 56.2% in 2017 to 47.8% in 2022, it remains six to seven times higher than that of their male counterparts across all social groups (Table 1).
Table 1: Distribution of NEET Youth by Gender and Social Group
| Gender | Social Group | Year 2017-18 | Year 2018-19 | Year 2019-20 | Year 2020-21 | Year 2021-22 | Year 2022-23 |
| Male | ST | 11.7 | 11.5 | 10.9 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 5.9 |
| SC | 14.4 | 14.3 | 13.4 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 8.8 | |
| OBC | 13.0 | 12.9 | 11.3 | 10.1 | 9.3 | 8.3 | |
| Others | 13.1 | 11.4 | 12.2 | 10.6 | 10.1 | 7.5 | |
| All | 13.2 | 12.7 | 11.9 | 10.2 | 9.6 | 8.0 | |
| Female | ST | 50.0 | 50.0 | 39.6 | 35.2 | 37.0 | 34.0 |
| SC | 59.6 | 59.5 | 54.4 | 53.1 | 53.2 | 48.1 | |
| OBC | 57.4 | 56.2 | 53.4 | 50.2 | 49.6 | 46.5 | |
| Others | 54.3 | 53.5 | 50.7 | 48.5 | 47.3 | 54.6 | |
| All | 56.2 | 55.6 | 51.7 | 48.9 | 48.5 | 47.8 |
Source: Unit Level Data, Periodic Labour Force Surveys, NSSO, MoSPI, GoI; Usual Principal and Usual Subsidiary Activity, combined by author.
This troubling gap reflects deeply rooted patriarchal norms and gender roles that limit adolescent and young girls’ access to education, mobility, skill training, and employment. Many young girls face familial and societal pressures to marry early, perform unpaid domestic work, or restrict themselves to gendered labour roles.
Among socially disadvantaged communities, the problem is even more severe. Female NEET youth from Dalit, Adivasi, and minority backgrounds remain the most excluded—the subaltern among subalterns. These young girls face compounded disadvantages arising from the intersection of caste and gender-based inequalities, where caste structures reinforce control over female sexuality and maintain a sexual division of labour. Their marginalisation is reinforced through cultural practices, restricted mobility, and lack of access to public spaces and institutions. In neoliberal economic regimes, these women are often subjected to new forms of labour exploitation, including informal, unpaid, and precarious work.
Beyond gender and caste, regional and rural-urban disparities also shape the NEET landscape. Rural youth face more acute challenges due to poor infrastructure, inadequate schools, limited access to quality vocational training, and lack of employment options. Urban slums, on the other hand, present a different kind of exclusion — they are geographically close to opportunities yet systematically denied access due to inadequate support structures and persistent socio-economic barriers.
The long-term disengagement of youth from education and employment not only leads to economic underutilisation but also causes psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, and a sense of social alienation. This disengagement poses a serious threat to India’s social fabric, social stability and economic growth, increasing dependency ratios and fuelling potential unrest.
- Way Forward
Target 8.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls for a substantial reduction in the proportion of NEET youth by 2020, underscoring the urgency of implementing effective strategies to tackle this issue (Sasikumar, 2019). The draft National Youth Policy (2021) of India also acknowledges NEET youth as a critical concern and proposes interventions focused on education (Rajput, 2025). However, the scale and complexity of the challenges facing this group far exceed what current measures address.
Given their large numbers and the multifaceted nature of their exclusion, NEET youth require immediate and focused policy attention through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that extends beyond conventional education and employment strategies.
- Existing government initiatives like Skill India, PMKVY, and Start-Up India, while ambitious, face significant implementation challenges. Issues of fragmentation, lack of coordination, and insufficient local tailoring reduce their effectiveness. A one-size-fits-all approach fails to address the nuanced barriers faced by different social groups.
- To bridge the gap between education and employment opportunities, it is imperative to enhance both the quality and accessibility of education and skill training programs. The current education system must prioritize employability by integrating practical skillsets, critical thinking, and digital literacy into curricula. This requires a shift from traditional, theory-based teaching methods to more hands-on, industry-relevant training that equips young people with the skills needed for the modern workforce.
- Skill development programs must be tailored to the specific needs of local labour markets. For instance, rural areas may benefit from agricultural technology or eco-tourism skills, while urban areas might focus on digital skills, manufacturing, and services.
- Youth Resource Centres (YRCs) can play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges faced by NEET youth by offering comprehensive, targeted support tailored to their specific needs. These centres can be powerful tools for social inclusion, skill development, and empowerment.
- YRCs can provide career counselling services that help youth explore different career paths, understand their strengths and interests, and receive advice on education and training options. Additionally, by providing mentorship programs and connecting youth with professionals in various industries, YRCs can offer invaluable exposure to career opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.
- Mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, are prevalent among NEET youth, particularly those facing marginalization. YRCs can play a critical role in addressing these issues by offering counseling services, mental health workshops, and stress-relief activities. By providing a supportive environment for mental well-being, YRCs help NEET youth develop the emotional resilience needed to pursue their educational and career goals.
- A gender-responsive approach is crucial to address challenges in context of NEET girls and ensure equal opportunities. Offering training in non-traditional livelihoods and STEM can challenge gender norms and expands employment options for young girls. By encouraging them to explore professions outside stereotypical gender roles, such programs not only broaden career prospects but also promote gender equality in the workforce, empowering young girls to achieve economic independence and contribute to societal development.
- Youth participation in policy-making is critical. Engage youth voices directly in designing and evaluating interventions to ensure that solutions are contextually grounded and demand-driven.
To conclude, India stands at a pivotal moment where its vast youth population represents both a tremendous opportunity and a significant challenge. The rising number of NEET youth threatens to undermine the potential of this demographic dividend. Converting this crisis into an opportunity requires urgent, systemic, and inclusive action. Without immediate intervention, India risks losing a unique window for transformative growth. However, with the right interventions and policies, the country can empower its youth and secure a more equitable and prosperous future for all.
References
International Labour Organization (2013): “Global employment trends for youth: A generationvat risk”, International Labour Organisation.
International Labour Organization (2021): “Young persons not in employment and education in India: 2000-2019”, New Delhi:ILO DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India.
Matsumoto, M., M. Hengge, and I. Islam (2012): “Tackling the youth employment crisis: A macroeconomic perspective”, [Employment Working Paper, No. 124]. Geneva: International Labour Organisation.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (2020): “Technical group report on population projections for India and States 2011-2036”, National Commission on Population, Government of India.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (2023): “Periodic Labour Force Survey: Annual Report 2021-22, 2022-23” NSSO, Government of India.
Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development and International Labour
Organization (2023): “Youth at work in the G20: Progress and policy action towards the Antalya target”, [Prepared for the Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting under India’s Presidency 2023].
Rajput, K. (2025, March 03): “Implementation of national youth policy is essential to aid growing youth demographic”, Times of India (Print).
Rajput, K. and M. Jatav (2022): “Migrant urban youth in the draft national youth policy 2021”, Economic & Political Weekly. 57 (38):13-16.
Sahu, P. and M. Kumar (2021): “Youth in ‘not in employment, education and training’ (NEET) category in India: Emerging trends, characteristics and correlates”, Labour & Development, 28 (1): pp. 24-45.
Sasikumar, S. K. (2019): “Employment and unemployment in India: Emerging trends and policy imperatives”, Labour & Development, 26 (2). pp. 1-28.
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Dr. Kuldeepsingh Rajput is a CEO & Founder Director at RUBAL Foundation.
(RUBAL Foundation deeply committed to uplifting urban and rural-tribal migrants, unorganised workers and marginalised communities. www.rubalfoundation.org)
