Congress Cites NITI Aayog Report On 8.7 Crore Youth Outside Education, Jobs
Congress questions India’s youth employment pathway citing NITI Aayog data.
The Congress on Monday accused the PM Modi government of failing to create a clear pathway from education to employment, citing a NITI Aayog report that estimates 8.7 crore Indians aged 15 to 29 are not engaged in education, employment or training. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge used the findings to criticise the government's handling of employment, education and skill development, arguing that young people face growing difficulties in finding stable work after completing their studies.
In a post on X, Kharge alleged that the government had "ravaged" the pathway from education to employment and questioned the availability of jobs for graduates. He cited figures from the Periodic Labour Force Survey for July 2026, according to which youth unemployment stood at 15.6%, while the rate among young women was 19.5%. Kharge also referred to the report's finding that nearly 88% of NEET youth are engaged in domestic duties.
Kharge questioned what he described as a gap between educational qualifications and employment opportunities. He claimed that graduates account for a significant share of unemployed Indians aged 20 to 29 and argued that families are spending savings and taking education loans to finance education without adequate employment opportunities afterwards. He also revived the BJP's earlier employment promise, asking what had happened to the commitment to create two crore jobs annually.
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The NITI Aayog report, titled "Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047", said its estimate of NEET youth is based on data from the 78th round of the National Sample Survey conducted in 2021. The report categorises India's workforce and learners into five broad groups: schooling, tertiary education, formal and informal work, NEET youth, and women. It said NEET youth face constraints including a lack of income and the financial burden associated with previous education.
The report also highlighted the need for subsidised training programmes that can encourage self-employment while aligning skills with local demand and emerging sectors. It noted that young people outside education, employment and training may find it difficult to add paid skill-development programmes to existing financial commitments. The Aayog defines NEET youth as people aged 15 to 29 who are not participating in education, employment or training, including those who are unemployed.
Kharge also alleged that expensive education, examination-related controversies, delayed recruitment, skill gaps and a shortage of quality jobs were putting pressure on India's young population. The Congress has used the NITI Aayog findings to question the government's employment record and its ability to convert India's large young population into a demographic advantage. The report's recommendations, meanwhile, emphasise targeted skilling and stronger alignment between training programmes and the changing requirements of the labour market.
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