25% of Youth in 250 Indian Districts Are Not in Education or Jobs
· India · Times of India, Indian Express
Nearly 25% of the youth population aged 15-29 in approximately 250 Indian districts are neither employed nor enrolled in education or training, according to the 2025 Periodic Labour Force Survey. The situation is most acute in northern states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal, where roughly two-thirds of districts report these high NEET levels. In Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, and Telangana, nearly half of the districts surveyed show similar trends. While a Niti Aayog report estimated the total number of NEET youth at nine crore, government officials have stated these figures should not be equated directly with unemployment. The survey also noted that for young women, nearly three-fourths of all districts recorded NEET rates exceeding 25%, often attributed to unpaid domestic responsibilities and societal expectations.
Why it matters
The high number of young people outside the workforce and education system represents a significant challenge for India's human capital development and long-term economic growth. Addressing this gap is critical for ensuring that the country's demographic dividend is effectively utilised.
Read the original report — Times of India
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