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Issue Briefs - Youth in India |
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11th Five Year Plan
One of the goals of the 11th Five Year Plan is to provide
comprehensive opportunities for the development of
youth in India.
11th Five Plan-Goals for Youth
• Health: Promote health and nutrition during pregnancy; impart
knowledge and skills to health service personnel to address adolescent
reproductive and sexual health; advocate for the delay in adolescent
marriage; integrate adolescent issues into RCH training materials; and
provide adolescent specific services at PHCs and CHCs.
• Secondary Education: Provide universal access to secondary
education to all students; improve quality of instruction and focus on
key subjects; reduce gender, social, and regional disparities.
• Vocational Education: Revamp the existing programmes to focus on
practical training, soft skills, computer literacy, and other skills sets
that are marketable in multiple sectors; allow for flexible courses and
degree programmes; and expand vocational education courses to more
schools.
• Higher and Technical Education: Increase opportunities for students
across professional sectors; improve quality in higher educational
and technical institutions; increase public and private investment in
education; and create new technical universities, polytechnics, and
community and degree colleges.
• Skill Development: Create a pool of skilled labour based on the needs
of industry, trade, and service sectors; launch the Skill Development
Mission which will focus on enhancing training opportunities for
employment in high growth sectors.
Sources: 11th Five Year Plan, Planning Commission; PRS.
Employment & Education
There are currently 378 universities in India, which
meet only a fraction of the demand.6 The National
Knowledge Commission and the Planning Commission
set targets to increase this number.
Table 2: 11th Five Year Plan Targets
Educational Institutions Target
Central Universities
30 total; 16 in states without a central
university; 14 to be established as world class
standards schools
Degree Colleges
370 degree colleges focused in areas with low
gross enrolment ratios
Technical Schools
8 IITs, 7 IIMs, 10 NITs, 3 IISERs, 20 IIITs, and 2
SPAs
PolytechnicsOne in every district without a polytechnic
Community Colleges
210 primarily in the northern, western and
eastern sections of India
Source: 11th Five Year Plan, Planning Commission.
There are 947 employment exchanges in India that notify
job-seekers of vacancies in the public sector and certain
private sector companies. In 2006, approximately 73
lakh persons registered with the exchanges. Of the total
registered job-seekers (4.14 crore), about 1.77 lakh were
placed in jobs in 2006.7
Endnotes
1. Population Projections for India and States 2001-2026, Report of the
Technical Group on Population Projections Constituted by the National
Commission on Population, Office of the Registrar General & Census
Commissioner, May 2006.
2. National Youth Policy (2003), See http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/policies/
policies-index.htm.
3. Reproductive and Child Health II: The Principles and Evidence Base
for Sate RCH II Programme Implementation Plans, Adolescent Health,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
4. Integrated Child Development Scheme, Ministry of Women and Child
Development. See http://wcd.nic.in/
5. Skills Development and Training, Eleventh Five Year Plan, Planning
Commission.
6. Education, Eleventh Five Year Plan, Planning Commission.
7. Annual Report 2007-08, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information. You may choose to reproduce or redistribute
this report for non-commercial purposes in part or in full to any other person with due acknowledgement of PFI and PRS
Legislative Research (“PRS”). The opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author(s). PRS makes every
effort to use reliable and comprehensive information, but PRS does not represent that the contents of the report are
accurate or complete. PRS is an independent, not-for-profit group. This document has been prepared without regard
to the objectives or opinions of those who may receive it.
Population Foundation of India
B-28, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110016
Tel.:+91-11-43894100, Fax: +91-11-43894199,
E-mail: popfound@sify.com, Website: www.popfound.org
Youth in India
Issue Brief
Context
• In 2001, about 556 million people (54% of the population) were below the age of 24.
Of this, 19% were between 15-24 years and 35% were below 14 years of age.
• The current demographic scenario is likely to change significantly over the next twenty
years. Demographic projections indicate that the median age will increase from about
23 years in 2001 to 31 years in 2026.
• The National Youth Policy (2003) focuses on four areas: (i) youth empowerment;
(ii) gender justice; (iii) inter-sectoral approach; and (iv) information and research
network. Government schemes for youth focus on education, employment and skills
development, and youth affairs.
• The Reproductive and Child Health Phase-II (RCH-II) includes adolescent health as
one of its components. RCH-II seeks to improve the health and development of
adolescents who are either married or out of school.
• The health targets include addressing adolescent reproductive and sexual health,
promoting nutrition and health during pregnancy, and integrating adolescent specific
services in PHCs and CHCs.
• Central schemes for the secondary education include Kendriya Vidyalayas, integrated
education for disabled children, adolescent education and life skills, and improved
boarding facilities for girls. The National Knowledge Commission and the Planning
Commission set targets to increase the number of universities in India.
• The Ministry of Labour implements schemes related to vocational training,
apprenticeship, and skills development. Employment exchanges have been established
to help job-seekers locate jobs in the public sector and in some private companies.
• The budget for RCH, ICDS, and nutrition programmes was Rs 6654 crore. This figure
may include spending for other groups besides youth and adolescents. In addition,
other general health programmes may spend on youth.
Prepared by
PRS Legislative Research, Centre for Policy Research, Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
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Demographic Scenario
Youth in India account for over half of the country’s
total population. In 2001, about 556 million people
(54% of the population) were below the age of 24.1 Of
this figure, 19% are between the ages of 15-24 years and
35% are below the age of 14 years of age.
Figure 1: 2001 Population by Age
35-44
12%
25-34
15%
45-54
8%
55+
10%
0-04
12%
15-24
19%
Source: Census of India, 2001.
5-14
24%
The current population breakdown is likely to change
considerably over the next 20 years. India is set to
experience a decline in fertility, which will reduce the
number of people under the age of 15. In turn, the
population above 15 years will increase considerably.
Figure 2: Population Projections 2001-2026
(in millions)
1,500
1,200
900
600
300
0
2001
2006
2011
2016
0-14
15-59
2021
60+
2026
Source: Population Projections for India and States 2001-2026, Office of
the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, May 2006.
The median age is projected to increase from about
23 years in 2001 to 31 years in 2026, with significant
variation across states.
Figure 3: Median Age Projections 2001-2026
40
Kerala
30
India
20
Uttar Pradesh
10
0
2001
2006
2011
2016
2021
2026
Source: Population Projections for India and States 2001-2026, Office of
the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, May 2006.
National Youth Policy
The National Youth Policy (2003) focuses on four broad
areas: (i) youth empowerment; (ii) gender justice; (iii)
inter-sectoral approach; and (iv) information and research
network. It covers youth from 13-35 years. The policy
states that all youth should be provided with education,
training, employment, and other opportunities that will
enhance their personal and professional development. The
eight key areas for youth development are: (i) education;
(ii) training and employment; (iii) health and family welfare;
(iv) environment; (v) sports; (vi) arts and culture; (vii)
science and technology; and (viii) civic responsibility.2
Government Schemes
Government schemes relating to youth focus on four
broad areas: (i) health; (ii) education; (iii) employment &
skills development; and (iv) youth affairs.
Health: One of the largest health programmes is the
Reproductive and Child Health Phase-II (RCH-II), which
includes adolescent health as one of its components.
RCH-II seeks to improve the health and development
of adolescents who are either married or out of school.
The programme focuses on adolescent growth and
development, nutrition, reproductive and sexual health,
marriage and parenthood, and life skill education.3 The
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) focuses
on early childhood development and includes a scheme to
improve health and nutritional habits of adolescent girls.4
Education: Education is a concurrent subject with
the responsibility shared by both the state and central
governments. At the central level, the Ministry of Human
Resource Development implements nine schemes for
primary education including Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mid-
day meals, education of girls, teachers’ welfare, and merit
scholarships. Central programmes for the secondary
level include Kendriya Vidyalayas, integrated education
for disabled children, adolescent education and life skills,
and strengthening boarding facilities for girls. In 2004,
the government created a 2% cess on central taxes for
elementary education, and subsequently in 2007, a 1%
cess for secondary and higher education.
Employment & Skills Development: Skills
development and employment also fall under the
concurrent list. Training is currently provided by over
five thousand industrial training institutes (ITI), of which
2,000 are state government operated.5 At the central
level, the Director General of Employment & Training
in the Ministry of Labour is the nodal agency that creates
policies, standards, trade testing and certification in
vocational training. State governments are responsible for
implementing vocational and skill training programmes.5
Some central schemes include the national employment
exchanges which provide career counselling and job
placement for the work force and the skill development
initiative to train one million workers.
Youth Affairs: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
implements 12 schemes for the promotion of youth and The goal of these schemes is to incorporate youth into
sports in India. Theses schemes focus on developing development activities as well as increase their access to
skills, leadership, service activities, and youth clubs. information and employment opportunities.
Table 1: Government Schemes
Scheme & Programmes
Ministry
Reproductive and Child Health
(RCH) Phase-II
Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS)
Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY)
Nutrition Programme for
Adolescent Girls (NPAG)
Health & Family
Welfare
Women & Child
Development
Women & Child
Development
Women & Child
Development
Balika Samriddhi Yojana
Women & Child
Development
Nutrition Education and Training
Through Community Food &
Nutrition Extension Units
Women & Child
Development
Skill Development Initiative (SDIS) Labour & Employment
National Employment Service
Labour & Employment
Upgradation of ITI Centres
Labour & Employment
Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in
the Northeast and J&K
Craftsmen Training
Labour & Employment
Labour& Employment
Apprenticeship Training
Labour & Employment
Women’s Vocational Training
Labour & Employment
Advanced Vocational Training
Computer Training for SCs & STs
Special Coaching for SCs & STs
Universalisation of Access to and
Improvement of Quality Education
Vocationalisation of Secondary
Education at +2 Level
Information & Communication
Technology (ICT) in Schools
Scheme for Upgrading Polytechnics
Apprenticeship Training
National Means-cum-Merit
Scholarship
National Incentive to Girls for
Secondary Education (SUCCESS)
Revised Girls Hostel
Distance Education & Web Based
Learning
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan
National Service Scheme
Labour & Employment
Labour & Employment
Labour & Employment
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Human Resource
Development
Youth Affairs & Sports
Youth Affairs & Sports
Rashtriya Sadbhawana Yojana
National Programme for Youth and
Adolescent Development
Youth Affairs & Sports
Youth Affairs & Sports
Main Objectives
Reduce the maternal mortality ratio, the infant mortality rate and total fertility rate; develop an adolescent
approach guided by key elements in the National Population Policy
Targets children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, rural areas, tribal areas, and urban slums to improve
nutritional and health status
Empowers adolescent girls and implements programmes for nutrition, health, education, literacy, recreation,
and skill development ; sponsored under the ICDS scheme
Provides 6kgs of food grains and other health and nutritional education to under nourished adolescent girls,
pregnant and nursing mothers
Encourages a positive attitude towards girl children in BPL families; provides an at-birth grant of Rs 500 and
education scholarships up to secondary education
Instil nutrition awareness among women and adolescent girls; provide education and skills for achieving
adequate nutrition; train women and adolescent girls in fruit and vegetable preservation
Identify the minimum skill set needed for successful employment and train or test existing skills of one million
workers
Focus on the network of employment exchanges, which provide career counselling, vocational guidance, job
placements, and other employment services
Improve existing ITIs into “Centres of Excellence” by introducing new courses in multiskilling and advanced/
specialised modular courses; the scheme focuses on the quality of vocational training, systemic reforms, and
project management and evaluation
Train youth to meet qualitative and quantitative requirements of industry, service sector, self-employment, etc
Train workers to have employable skills for the labour market and increase the quality of crafts and industrial
production
Expand the availability of training seats for trade, graduate, technician, and vocational apprentices; include
50 additional trades under this scheme
Provide skills training in for women in secretarial practice, electronics, architectural assistantship, computer
operator, dressmaking, instrument mechanics, etc
Upgrade skills of current industrial workers
Train SC/ST workers who are registered with the employment exchange with computer skills
Provide special coaching to SCs/STs to appear for exams for Group C government postings
Develop infrastructure, quality learning in school, and additional support for education of girls, rural, and
SC/ST students; accommodate the growing number of students in secondary schools
Provide diversified educational programmes to increase employable skills, decrease the difference between
demand and supply of skilled labour, and provide diverse options for higher education
Enhance access to technology for students of diverse socio-economic and geographic backgrounds
Promote education and skills training opportunities for persons with disabilities
Provide practical and other necessary skills training for engineering graduates, diploma holders, and
vocational graduates
Select students through a nationalized test after VIII for Rs 6,000 scholarship to apply towards secondary
and higher secondary education expenses
Promote secondary education for girls by providing incentives; covers all SC/ST girls who pass VIII exams and
all girls who pass VIII exams from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas for secondary education
Create one girls hostel in each educationally backward block; provide financial support to voluntary
organisations for running girls hostels for secondary and higher secondary students
Develop web based curriculum for technical education to improve technical education at IITs and IISc
Implement development programmes for non-student rural youth such as youth clubs
Encourage school and university students to participate in regular community service activities and develop
civic responsibility
Develop the leadership capabilities of rural youth; covers all 500 district with NYKS
Merge the Promotion of Youth Activities and Training, the Promotion of National Integration, the Promotion of
Adventure, and the Development and Empowerment of Adolescents into one programme
Sources: Annual Report 2007-08, Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Labour and Employment, and Human Resource
Development; Expenditure Budget Vol. 2, Union Budget, 2007-08, 2008-09, Government of India; PRS.