The clock is ticking away for our youth dividend to aid progress

India must invest in outcome-oriented education to align the supply of skills with demand and achieve its development goals

- RAJESH SHUKLA

As the world marks International Youth Day on 12 August, India faces both an extraordinary opportunity and an urgent challenge. With over 420 million individuals aged 15 to 29—nearly 29% of our total population—we have the largest youth cohort globally. This demographic advantage, often called a 'youth dividend,' is not guaranteed. Whether it powers a national transformation or results in unmet potential depends on the choices we make now.

A recent study by People Research on India's Consumer Economy (PRICE), Navigating the Youth Frontier, offers valuable insights into the world of young India. It highlights a generation that is both ambitious and hopeful. Like their global peers, Indian youth aspire to quality education, meaningful employment, digital connectivity and upward mobility. While many of these goals are increasingly within reach, progress remains uneven, with some structural challenges limiting the full realization of these aspirations.

India has made significant progress on access to education. Only 3% of youth are now illiterate, and over 30% have completed their graduation or higher studies. However, a growing body of evidence shows that improved enrolment has not necessarily resulted in better learning outcomes. The problem of 'learning poverty'—where children fail to gain basic reading and numeracy skills by age 10—remains acute. Education reforms must now pivot from enrolment to outcomes.