Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 28: An estimated 8.7 crore Indian youth aged 15 to 29 are neither studying, working nor undergoing training, highlighting the urgent need for affordable and subsidised skilling programmes that can promote self-employment and align training with local demand and emerging sectors, according to a recent NITI Aayog report.
The report, titled ‘Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047’, said the estimate is based on data from the 78th round of the National Sample Survey conducted in 2021.
To maximise the impact of skilling initiatives, NITI Aayog has categorised India’s workforce and learners into five segments — schooling; tertiary education; formal and informal work; youth not in education, employment and training (NEET); and women.
The Aayog said NEET youth face particular challenges due to the absence of income and the “sunk cost” of previous education.
“NEET youth are constrained by the absence of income and the sunk cost of prior education. Students often cannot layer paid skilling onto existing financial commitments,” it said.
NITI Aayog defines NEET youth as individuals aged 15 to 29 who are not engaged in education, employment or training, as well as those who are unemployed.
“NEET youth and women require affordable or subsidised training options, alongside dedicated financial support where constraints are most binding. Across segments, the ability to combine learning with earning remains a central requirement,” the report said.
For the workforce and NEET youth, the focus needs to shift towards mid-career reskilling, self-employment pathways and learning options aligned with local demand and emerging sectors, it added.
The report noted that students, particularly those from low-income households, are already stretched by college expenses and, in many cases, private tuition. As a result, additional investment in paid skilling alongside a traditional degree is often financially unviable.
“As a result, many students choose to get themselves a formal job/income source after graduation to support their families and often end up taking whatever brings in some stable income even if that is low-paying; others, however, struggle to transition into work and become NEET,” the Aayog said.
The report also highlighted a significant mismatch between education and employment, noting that only 8.25% of graduates are employed in roles aligned with their qualifications.
“Limited exposure to practical learning and industry-aligned training continues to constrain employability, even among formally educated youth,” it said.
NITI Aayog said India’s ambition of Viksit Bharat 2047 depends on enabling citizens to learn, earn and advance continuously, making skilling central to achieving the goal.
Since 2014–15, more than 7.67 crore individuals have been trained, it added.