"India's National Youth Policy: Vision, Challenges, and Future Prospects",

        

Here is an artistic representation of India's National Youth Policy, highlighting youth empowerment through education, sports, innovation, and inclusivity.

The National Youth Policy aims to bring together the dreams and ambitions of India's young people in order to promote the peaceful development of society and better utilize their energies for responsible governance and inclusive economic prosperity. In general, the Policy establishes the guidelines that the Department's plans must be based on. Funds for the promotion of young leadership, skills, and sports nationwide, particularly in rural areas, are provided by the Ministry of young Affairs and Sports. During FY 2023–2024, the Department ran a number of youth engagement, experiential learning, training, and other initiatives in which 4,96,39,201 young people participated.Young people are essential to a country's development and prosperity. The youth are the subject of the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), which emphasize the importance of investing in them as a crucial national population. India has the highest youth population in the world, with 808 million people, or 66% of the total population, under the age of 35. Even with the predicted drop in population, India would still be a very "young" nation in 2030, with 365 million people, or 24 percent of the total, falling into the 15–29 age range.India's future growth trajectory will depend on how it develops its youth population at a time when many nations in Europe, the US, and even China are battling the twin issues of an aging population and dwindling youth.With a 10-year goal for youth development by 2030, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India created the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2021 to optimize the potential benefits from this "most dynamic and vibrant segment" of the population. The proposal came after a thorough analysis of the current NYP 2014.The goal of the NYP 2014 was to enable youth to realize their greatest potential and play a role in the development of the country. Education, employment and skill development, entrepreneurship, health and healthy lifestyles, and sports were among the important areas for action that were recognized. The policy made sure that all young people, regardless of their background, had access to opportunities by emphasizing the need for inclusive growthThe administration started reviewing the NYP 2014 after realizing how dynamic youth aspirations and global trends are. A draft of the new NYP 2024, which outlines a ten-year strategy for youth development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)as made public in August 2024. Five primary areas are the focus of this draft: 1. Education: Expanding access to high-quality education and encouraging opportunities for lifelong learning. 2. Employment: Encouraging the development of skills and opening doors to profitable work. 3. Youth Leadership: Promoting involvement in community development and governance. 4. Health: Encouraging young people's mental and physical health. 5. Social Justice: Addressing discrimination and guaranteeing fair opportunity.The 1988 draft of India's first NYP was revised in 2003, 2014, and 2021. The government's policy priorities have evolved in more creative and long-lasting ways with each iteration, moving from ideals to more tangible results for real youth empowerment and involvement in determining the core facets of India's development in the twenty-first century. For instance, the main goals of NYP 2003 were to inculcate in young people moral principles and a sense of patriotism. In order to uphold national integrity and unity, it placed a strong emphasis on respect for all religious faiths, beliefs, and sociocultural values. In addition, the policy made reference to gender justice, recognizing that gender bias was "the main factor" behind women's poor socioeconomic and health outcomes.However, no particular programs or action plans supported NYP 2003's goal for gender justice.NYP 2014, in contrast, was far more well-written. It changed the young age group from 13–35 to 15–29 years old in order to “provide a more focused approach” to youth development and empowerment. To accomplish these goals, it established 11 priority action areas, including substance abuse and mental health, and five objectives. Equal access to education, lifelong learning, vocational training, and youth skill development were also highlighted in NYP 2014. Despite taking a forward-looking approach, the policy draft was criticized for its "disconnect" from ground realities and its lack of detail for particular action plans.NYP 2021, on the other hand, is mainly concerned with sustainability and holistic development. The policy is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, which primarily include economic development, decent jobs, better education, and decreased inequality. The scope of NYP 2021 is more extensive than previous policy iterations, ranging from promoting sports participation and developing a more contemporary and comprehensive school curriculum to financial, legal, and digital literacy plans to offer mental health support and involve young people in policy and decision-making. It covers all of the vital facets of society, education, and health and wellness as well as the significance of young people in the workforce for India's overall development. However, there isn't a precise plan for putting it into practice via the various state processes.The NYP 2021's extensive coverage of the reintegration of NEET youth—youth not in school, work, or training—is crucial. Without providing any precise timeframes or programs outlining a roadmap, it suggests developing plans and actions to aid in the reintegration of such youth. However, only if India can create fair employment prospects can such reintegration of NEET youngsters produce results. Given that the unemployment rate in India was 23.2% in 2022, this goal seemed challenging. Perhaps one approach to create jobs would be to enroll a large number of the trained NEET young in government programs, find the necessary teachers domestically, and give a sizable percentage of these youth work chances. However, NYP 2021 makes no mention of any routes.The implicit premise that all Indian youth have equal access to education, skill development, and employment is another flaw in NYP 2021. The approach ignores the significant diversity among India's youth, as only a small percentage of them use their social, cultural, and economic status to achieve their goals and gain access to greater career possibilities and upward mobility. On the other hand, the great majority of young people are members of the socially and economically disadvantaged groups and face significant obstacles in their pursuit of sustainable lifestyles. For young migrants from cities, these differences multiply significantly. Considering that 30 percent of youngsters aged 15 to 29 were "NEE'T" in 2019—57 percent—and that 5.6 million pupils dropped out of secondary education during the COVID-19 epidemic years in 2020–21.Early marriages, prejudice, economic migration, and other social impediments are recognized as the symptoms that lead to dropouts. But by focusing only on these symptoms, NEP 2021 ignores the structural barriers that exist within the educational system and views dropouts as a personal issue that can be resolved through "counselling," "school-community-parents partnerships," and "merit-based bank loans." The policy also suggests rethinking "the traditional modes of teaching" by using technology to "enhance access to education for those physically unable to attend schools or colleges due to distance or disability," but the fact that 60% of students lack internet access is likely to undermine this recommendation.Its purview includes, among other things, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the ministries of Rural Development, Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Finance, Health, and Family Welfare, Education, Social Justice and Empowerment, Science and Technology, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as numerous departments within each of these ministries. Furthermore, non-state actors, non-governmental organizations, youth organizations, and—above all—the commercial sector must actively coordinate and assist the execution of policies. The execution of NYP 2021 may prove to be its greatest obstacle when put through a reality check.A vision for the empowerment of India's youth that will boost the country's domestic growth and increase its global influence in the twenty-first century is presented by NYP 2021. But without a well-defined implementation strategy and action plan, the policy's future is uncertain. India cannot afford to miss out on this chance to mainstream its "Amrit Peedhi" in the "Amrit Kaal."Actively interacting with young people can improve the formulation of plans and interventions for their growth. All stakeholders can improve their efforts for greater impact by having a better grasp of their goals, issues, and motivations. The MoYAS will spearhead initiatives for greater youth participation as the guardian of all government initiatives pertaining to youth. In order to fully grasp the opinions and insights of the youth, it will initiate a massive campaign to interact with them across a range of platforms, media, and venues. Additionally, in order to guarantee adequate mobilization for young engagement, the MoYAS will provide the National young Advisory Council with pertinent instructions.Independent Youth Connect programs will be introduced by all pertinent ministries. Even if the 2014 youth policy included this, extra work is required to guarantee that it is implemented consistently. All ministries will make room on their websites for information on youth-relevant programs as part of this endeavor. The district youth officers (DYO) channel and the MoYAS's current volunteer network will be used to support recurring youth discussions with all line ministries. A youth consultation schedule with ministries will be developed and disseminated annually, designating particular months for each ministry.Every action item listed above relates to the tasks that the federal government and state governments will need to do in the upcoming years. Additionally, this strategy invites young people to take part in determining their own destiny. Young people are encouraged to interact with the GoI and its policies using the many online and offline avenues that are accessible. They are urged to take initiative, be accountable citizens, and support both their own and their communities' advancement.The government has launched a number of initiatives and programs to successfully carry out the NYP's goals: MY Bharat, or Mera Yuva Bharat: 

This independent organization within the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was established on October 31, 2023, and provides a forum for involving young people in national development initiatives. It seeks to give everyone equal access to opportunity so that young people can fulfill their dreams and help realize the goal of a developed India by 2047. PMKVY, or Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: a program for developing skills that aims to identify and standardize youth abilities. To promote employable skills and boost daily wage earners' productivity, the initiative provides financial incentives and high-quality training.India's dedication to fostering its youth is shown in these policies and initiatives, which acknowledge their critical role in the advancement and development of the country.