8.7 crore Indian youth not in education, employment or training

An estimated 8.7 crore Indians aged 15 to 29 were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in 2021, according to a NITI Aayog report. The report, titled 'Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat @ 2047', draws on data from the 78th round of the National Sample Survey. It found that nearly 11 per cent of Indians in that age group fall into the NEET category.

The report highlights a widening gap between education and employment. Only 8.25 per cent of graduates are working in jobs that match their qualifications. Around 88 per cent of NEET youth are engaged in domestic work and caregiving, with women accounting for the largest share. The Economic Times reports that high training costs and the difficulty of moving from education to employment are among the key challenges.

NITI Aayog has recommended subsidised or free training programmes focused on self-employment and local market needs, introducing practical subjects early in secondary school, and creating a unified digital tracking system for learner records. The Federal notes that the Union Budget has allocated Rs 34,000 crore for skilling projects, but outcomes have remained uneven. The report links skilling with India's goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047.