Every year, 12 million people are added to India’s working-age population. This number of potential workers represents a huge population that could lead India to reap the demographic dividend. But unemployment is spreading even among the educated youth.
According to the India Employment Report 2024, the share of unemployed youth in the total unemployed population is at a disturbing level of 82.9 percent. The government launched the Skill India Mission with much fanfare in 2015. But the focus of training institutes is on providing skills rather than employment.
Government data shows that over one crore people were trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2.0 between FY’17 and FY’23, of which just over 20 lakh got employment.
This worrying figure has rekindled fears that India may fall short in reaping the demographic dividend. “Skill training cannot be an afterthought. It should be integrated into the formal education system from the secondary level onwards. Industry will have to come forward for training,” says Jayant Krishna, former CEO and COO of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
What needs to be done
Skill Sets
Mainstream education should be linked to employability skills right from the secondary level. Courses like life skills, language proficiency, communication skills and professional ethics can be included
Emphasis on apprenticeship
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme should be promoted to provide apprentices with the opportunity to learn while on the job. Since the launch of the programme in 2016, only 24.74 lakh apprentices have been engaged by industries till November 2023. Six-month apprenticeships can be integrated with all undergraduate degrees to increase the employability of graduates
Industry engagement
Industry involvement in training should be encouraged through subsidies or CSR funds. Industry expertise is important for high-quality, market-relevant training. There is consensus that skills should be tailored to industry needs
Jayant Chaudhary, 45 years RLD, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge)
Distinguished families
,Chaudhary, grandson of former Prime Minister Charan Singh and son of former Union Minister Ajit Singh, did his post-graduation from the London School of Economics. He was an MP from Mathura from 2009 to 2014. After his grandfather was awarded the Bharat Ratna by the government, his Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) joined the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Important Involvement
,Choudhary has been a member of the Standing Committee on Commerce, Agriculture and Finance, Consultative Committee on Finance and Committee on Government Assurances