<h3 dir="ltr">Introduction</h3>
India's economic landscape presents a compelling yet confounding scenario. The nation boasts a substantial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $4.11 trillion, yet it grapples with a critical challenge &ndash; rampant youth unemployment, now designated a &ldquo;national crisis.&rdquo;&nbsp;
This incongruity compels us to scrutinize the inclusivity and sustainability of India's growth model, particularly regarding its impact on specific demographics: religious minorities, the informal sector workforce, tribal communities, differently-abled communities, and women. Further compounding the challenge of youth unemployment is the inordinate delay in conducting the decennial census. The last census exercise was completed in 2011, leaving policymakers reliant on outdated data for crucial economic and social planning.
The enforcement of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India's new criminal code on July 1, 2024, coincides with the booking of a Delhi street vendor (who hails from Bihar &ndash; one of the impoverished states of India) under its provisions, for allegedly obstructing a foot overbridge near New Delhi railway station for sales. This incident underscores the potential for social tension, particularly if the BNS disproportionately impacts informal and migrant workers amidst high youth unemployment. Similar grievances regarding economic marginalization and state harassment fueled the Arab uprisings, ignited by Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in Tunisia in December 2010. To prevent such possible unrest, India must address underemployment through skilling initiatives, foster youth entrepreneurship, and ensure regulations consider the needs of informal workers, while simultaneously promoting good governance to curb harassment by officials.
<h3 dir="ltr">A staggering unemployment paradox</h3>
A staggering 103.4 million young people, representing one-third of India's youth demographic, are outside education, employment, and vocational training. Further amplifying the concern, a National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) survey reveals that over 50% of Indian women in the 15-29 age group are neither employed nor enrolled in education (Rampal, 2024). This concerning phenomenon necessitates a more profound investigation into the factors hindering job creation and impeding the effective utilization of India's youthful human capital.&nbsp;
Several empirical studies have served as stark warnings to Indian policymakers regarding the national youth unemployment crisis. These studies illustrate the human cost of this phenomenon. The tragic case of Samarveer Singh, a 33-year-old Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Delhi University's Hindu College, exemplifies the desperation fueled by job insecurity. Despite years of service as an ad-hoc faculty member, Singh's inability to secure a permanent position reportedly led to his suicide on April 26, 2023. This incident underscores the psychological toll of unemployment on qualified individuals (Tewari, 2023).
Another case of Neelam Azad, a 38-year-old tuition teacher, exemplifies the challenges faced by qualified individuals in securing employment. Despite holding appropriate qualifications, including a degree and passing the Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test, Neelam was unable to obtain a teaching position for seven years. This prolonged period of unemployment likely contributed to significant frustration. Drawing inspiration from Bhagat Singh, a prominent revolutionary figure, Neelam adopted the name 'Azad,' meaning 'free,' and transitioned into activism. Her activism primarily focused on advocating for farmers' rights and women's empowerment, including the rights of female wrestlers (Singh, 2024).
On December 13, 2023, Neelam Azad, along with fellow protesters, engaged in a dramatic demonstration at the Indian Parliament. They deployed smoke bombs and chanted slogans to draw attention to pressing issues such as inflation, unemployment, and ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, a northeastern Indian state. This incident, deemed a "security breach" by authorities, underscored the depth of desperation among the youth in response to economic hardships and a lack of employment opportunities.
While Azad's actions are not condoned, this event highlights the potential for social unrest driven by economic distress and inadequate job prospects. Her protest serves as a stark reminder of the frustrations experienced by many in similar circumstances and the urgent need for addressing these systemic issues to prevent further escalation of social tensions.
Despite forming a substantial 14% of India's 1.35 billion population, Muslims face demonstrably lower representation in both government and private sector employment. The Sachar Committee Report (2006), prepared by a high-level government-appointed committee on the Muslim community's social, economic, and educational status, documented their underrepresentation. The report found a significant gap in formal sector employment, with less than 8% of Muslims employed compared to the national average of 21%. Further widening the disparity, Muslim women face even more significant challenges in workforce participation &ndash; less than 15%, according to the 2011 census data. The statistics for Muslim women&rsquo;s involvement in the workforce stand in stark contrast to Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian counterparts, whose participation rates are significantly higher. This data paints a clear picture of socioeconomic disparity for Muslims in India, necessitating further investigation into its root causes and potential solutions for achieving greater inclusion (Amin, 2022).
In June 2024, there were recent controversies surrounding the integrity and fairness of high-stakes standardized testing in India, a determinant of youth employment. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a single-level, national entrance exam conducted for aspiring medical students in India, was leaked. The UGC-NET examination, a qualifier for teaching positions and research grants at Indian universities and colleges, was also leaked. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for managing both exams (Mishra, 2024). The leaks threaten millions of students' educational aspirations and futures, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
<h3 dir="ltr">Educated and jobless</h3>
The 2024 India Employment Report, a joint publication by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD), revealed that youth represent 83% of the total unemployed (India Employment Report, 2024).
Furthermore, the report underscores a critical shift in the composition of unemployed youth. The proportion of educated individuals (those with at least secondary education) within the total unemployed youth has significantly increased. This figure has nearly doubled, rising from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022. This trend suggests a growing mismatch between the skills possessed by young graduates and the demands of the labor market (Mukhopadhyay, 2024).
The Government of India has implemented many flagship programs to address the nation's persistent unemployment and underemployment challenges. These programs, including Skill India Mission, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), and Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), aim to equip the workforce with relevant skills and foster entrepreneurship, particularly amongst rural populations. However, despite their noble intentions, these initiatives face several significant challenges that hinder their efficacy in achieving their stated goals. These challenges include limited awareness and outreach, infrastructure constraints, and the industry-academic disconnect, which refers to the gap between the skills taught in academic institutions and those required by the industry, leading to a mismatch in the job market.
<h3 dir="ltr">Unemployment and suicide</h3>
The key findings of the suicide statistics in India for the year 2022, drawing upon data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), is the association between suicide and income level (Nitnaware, 2023).
Key Findings:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Low Income and Suicide: &nbsp;A significant proportion (64.3%) of suicide victims reported an annual income of less than $1,400 USD per annum. This suggests a strong correlation between low earnings and suicide risk. A further 30.7% of victims earned between $1,400 and $7,000 USD per annum, indicating that financial hardship plays a substantial role across various income brackets</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bankruptcy and Indebtedness: The report highlights a concerning rise in suicides in the aftermath of bankruptcy and indebtedness (7,034 in 2022 compared to 6,361 in 2021). This upward trend suggests a growing burden of debt on individuals, possibly exacerbated by economic factors.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Geographic Disparity: Maharashtra reported the highest number of suicides due to financial strain (1,941), followed by Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. This data suggests potential regional variations in economic vulnerability and debt prevalence.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Unemployment and Suicide: While suicides attributed to unemployment showed a slight decrease (3,170 in 2022 compared to 3,541 in 2021), the figure remains concerning. Kerala reported the highest count of unemployment-related suicides (2,204).</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Policy interventions</h3>
To effectively tackle youth unemployment, a comprehensive approach is crucial. Here are some key policy areas for consideration:
Firstly, reforming the education system to focus on developing relevant skills for the job market is essential. The government's New Education Policy introduced in 2020 aims to promote public-private partnerships, which can be beneficial. Still, it might disproportionately favor private educational institutions, potentially increasing costs and exacerbating existing inequalities in access to quality education.
Secondly, encouraging entrepreneurship among young people can create new job opportunities. Policy interventions in this department should include providing access to funding, mentorship programs, and streamlining bureaucratic processes for starting businesses. Fostering a culture of innovation within educational institutions can also help young people develop the skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs.
Thirdly, investments in infrastructure development and key industries like renewable energy and manufacturing will create new job opportunities in these sectors. Promoting foreign investment and fostering a business-friendly environment can generate further job creation.
Lastly, robust social safety nets can provide a critical buffer for unemployed youth by providing unemployment benefits, skill development stipends, and affordable healthcare options for young job seekers.
Addressing youth unemployment requires policy interventions and a shift in societal mindset towards embracing vocational training, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning. Through a collective effort, India can harness the potential of its young demographic and steer the nation toward a prosperous future.
<hr>
References
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Amin, Z. (2022), &ldquo;Muslim women in India allege bias in hiring for jobs,&rdquo; Al Jazeera, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/3/muslim-women-in-india-allege-bias-in-hiring-for-jobs">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/3/muslim-women-in-india-allege-bias-in-hiring-for-jobs</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">India Employment Report 2024: Youth employment, education and skills, Geneva: International Labour Office, year. &copy; ILO.]</li>
<li dir="ltr">Mishra, A, (2024), &ldquo;National Testing Agency chief sacked by Centre amid NEET, NET row. &ldquo;India Today,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pradeep-kharola-subodh-kumar-director-general-national-testing-agency-paper-leaks-neet-ugt-net-2556738-2024-06-22">https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pradeep-kharola-subodh-kumar-director-general-national-testing-agency-paper-leaks-neet-ugt-net-2556738-2024-06-22</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">Mukhopadhyay, S. (2024), &ldquo;Unemployment rate in India doubles among educated youth: Former CEA Kaushik Basu says, &lsquo;Change is coming&rsquo;, Live Mint, URL: <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/unemployment-rate-in-india-doubles-among-educated-youth-former-cea-kaushik-basu-says-change-is-coming-11711595014880.html">https://www.livemint.com/news/india/unemployment-rate-in-india-doubles-among-educated-youth-former-cea-kaushik-basu-says-change-is-coming-11711595014880.html</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">Nitnaware, H. (2023), &ldquo;Number of daily wage workers dying by suicide increased in 2022: NCRB data,&rdquo; Down to Earth,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/number-of-daily-wage-workers-dying-by-suicide-increased-in-2022-ncrb-data-93185#:~:text=Telangana%20reported%201%2C163%20cases%2C%20while,the%20total%20number%20of%20victims">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/number-of-daily-wage-workers-dying-by-suicide-increased-in-2022-ncrb-data-93185#:~:text=Telangana%20reported%201%2C163%20cases%2C%20while,the%20total%20number%20of%20victims</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr">Rampal, N. (2024), &ldquo;33% of India&rsquo;s youth aren&rsquo;t in employment, education, or training. Most of them are women,&rdquo; The Print, URL:&nbsp;<a href="https://theprint.in/india/33-of-indias-youth-arent-in-employment-education-or-training-most-of-them-are-women/1479581/">https://theprint.in/india/33-of-indias-youth-arent-in-employment-education-or-training-most-of-them-are-women/1479581/</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">Singh, S. I. (2024), &ldquo;Parliament breach accused Neelam Azad is a patriot and activist: Family, villagers.&rdquo; The Caravan, URL:&nbsp;<a href="https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/parliament-breach-accused-neelam-azad-is-a-patriot-activist-according-to-family-villagers">https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/parliament-breach-accused-neelam-azad-is-a-patriot-activist-according-to-family-villagers</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">Tewari, S. (2023), &ldquo;Former DU ad hoc teacher found dead months after he was removed from job,&rdquo; The Hindu.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/former-du-ad-hoc-teacher-found-dead-months-after-he-was-removed-from-job/article66786626.ece">https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/former-du-ad-hoc-teacher-found-dead-months-after-he-was-removed-from-job/article66786626.ece</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">The Hindu Business Line (2024), &ldquo;A street vendor in Delhi becomes 1st accused of new criminal law,&rdquo;<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/new-criminal-laws-a-street-vendor-in-delhi-becomes-first-accused/article68354321.ece"> https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/new-criminal-laws-a-street-vendor-in-delhi-becomes-first-accused/article68354321.ece</a> </li>
</ul>

آراء

Commentaries

الدخل الأساسى الشامل

Universal Basic Income

الشباب

Youth

العمل والتوظيف

Labor and Employment

الفقر

Poverty

جودة التشغيل

Quality of Employment

العمالة غير الرسمية والمؤقتة

Informal and Temporary Employment

السياسات الاقتصادية

Economic Policies

 الهند: بطالة الشباب تهدد الأمن والحياة 

The Toll of Unemployment on India’s Youth

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