Series 1: Indian Youth – The Strongest Pillar of Viksit Bharat

 India is not just a country with a rich past, but also one with the world’s largest youth population. In the journey of Viksit Bharat 2047, youth are the most critical resource. To understand their role, let’s break it into three parts: How many youth we have, what abilities they already possess, and what skills they need to create.

1. How Many Youth India Has

•According to UNFPA 2024 report, India’s median age is 28 years – meaning half of the population is below 28.

•Out of 1.43 billion people (2024), about 65% are below 35 years, and nearly 370 million are between 15–29 years.

•By 2030, India will have the world’s largest working-age population of nearly 1 billion people.

👉 This means, one out of every five young people in the world is an Indian.

2. What Abilities Indian Youth Already Possess

•Education Access: Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education is at 28.4%, with millions of graduates in STEM, commerce, and humanities.

•Digital Advantage: India has 820 million internet users, of which a majority are youth — the highest in rural growth.

•Start-up Power: India is the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world. Over 45,000+ start-ups are founded by youth below 35.

•Sports & Culture: From the Olympics to IT, from arts to cinema, Indian youth dominate global platforms.

3. What Skills Youth Must Create for Viksit Bharat

While numbers are huge, quantity alone cannot drive development. The youth need future-ready skills:

1.Digital & AI Skills – coding, data science, robotics, cybersecurity.

2.Green Skills – sustainable farming, renewable energy, waste management.

3.Entrepreneurship & Innovation – turning ideas into scalable businesses.

4.Vocational Skills – hands-on training in healthcare, logistics, manufacturing.

5.Leadership & Policy Awareness – so that youth can shape governance, not just follow it.

Conclusion

India stands at a historic advantage: the youngest country in the world, with the potential to lead in knowledge, technology, and innovation. But this potential will only convert into progress when education + skill + opportunity align.

The first step towards Viksit Bharat is recognizing that youth are not just future citizens — they are the present drivers of change.

✨ This was Series 1 (Indian Youth).

Next in the series, Series 2: The Skill Gap – Why Youth Need Reskilling and Upskilling for 2047.

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