Youth Policy in India: A Dialogue Among Brics Partners

More than one third of population in India falls under the category of youth and more than seventy percent population is below 35 years of age (0-35 years). Given to this age structure of Indian population it is quite reasonable to claim that India is a young country. This demographic bulge of youth is expected to continue till 2030. After noticing the rise in youth population from 1981 onwards, the Government of India has formally drafted a youth policy in 1988. It was revised in 2003 and recently in 2013. Focus of youth policy has been shifted gradually from development to empowerment of young people. The thrust of latest youth policy in India is to enhance the skills of young people so that they shall play the role of agents in the development process. The present paper examines the National Youth Policy in India with special reference to current youth development indicators. The present policies of Indian government for young people are examined to understand the socio-economic status of youth in India. A critical appraisal of youth policy in India informs us that there is still a big gap in educational and income opportunities between the upper caste youth, economically upper and middle class youth and the socially disadvantaged youth such as lower caste youth and economically lower income class youth. Finally, the paper also tries to develop a dialogue among BRICS partners with special reference to youth policies in their respective countries.