Youth in India Report 2022

Youth in India Report 2022

News: Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released ‘Youth in India 2022’ Report, which shows that the population share of the youth is starting to decline whereas the share of the elderly is expected to increase during 2021-2036.

Key Findings:
• Decline in Youth Population - Youth in the age group of 15-29 years comprise 27.2 per cent of the population for 2021, which is expected to decrease to 22.7 by 2036.
• Proportion of Youth to Total Population – From 26.6% in 1991 to 27.6% in 2016; now it is projected to see a downward trend 22.7% by 2036
• Proportion of Elderly to Total Population - It has increased from 6.8% in 1991 to 9.2% in 2016 and is projected to reach 14.9% in 2036.
• States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh are projected to see a higher elderly population than the youth by 2036. 
• Bihar and Uttar Pradesh along with Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are projected to have over half (52 per cent) of the country’s youth, according to the report.

What can we infer from the above findings?
• India is experiencing a demographic window of opportunity, a ‘youth bulge’. Youth Bulge refers to a pattern in which larger share of the population is comprised of children and adults. 
• With this opportunity also come challenges and meeting demands of the growing youth population is the key. We must have necessary resources and opportunities to be given in the form of access to education, gainful employment, healthcare, addressing inequality issues. 
• A greater proportion of youth at present will result in a greater proportion of elderly in the population in future. Rise in the share of elderly population will put pressure on social security and public welfare systems.