Youth: Shaping the future Bharat

The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 saw a major shift in focus thus providing the right breeding ground for foundational thought. Today, the knowledge about the Indian ethos through applicable, learner-centric approaches has laid a firm foundation for our youth. In the last nine years, close to 400 NCERT textbooks have been digitised and provided on the e-Pathshala app. New IITs and IIMs have opened since 2014, over 350 new universities have been established since then, there has been a 71 per cent increase in the number of medical colleges, and in fact the overall expenditure on education has nearly doubled in the last nine years!

Not just traditional academics, but skilling and upskilling are now significant contributors to education. The budget allocation for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has seen 3.5 times increase. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, 1.37 crore people have acquired skills in new age courses like AI, Robotics, Drone tech, Mechatronics, 3D printing, and more.

Crucially, PM Modi has played a pivotal role in turning the tide in favour of overall growth, development and success of the youth and has tapped into their potential in erstwhile neglected opportunities. Sports is one such example; India saw its best-ever performance in history during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2021. For the fostering of a sporting culture across India, the Khelo India Programme taps hidden sporting talents across the country. The subsequent training and exposure provided to our athletes is at par with the International standards. Indigenous sports like Yogasana, Silambam, Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, are promoted under the aegis of Khelo India, on the one hand, and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) helps athletes with medal prospects excel at international sporting events, on the other.

I become – Employment

Ensuring quality education for disadvantaged and marginalised youth, fostering a brighter future for the girl child, expanding access to quality education for all, encouraging parents and students to have honest conversation around exams (through pariksha pe charcha) are some of the guiding principles of the PM Modi-led government.

Once the educational and skill foundation is right, the right opportunity comes along way sooner than anticipated. Towards this end, the Rozgar Mela, a recruitment drive for 10 lakh central government jobs has been launched by the government. The buoyant spirit of the youth, powered by an overhauled education system and their own optimism can be seen in just the numbers; the number of people employed in MSMEs has seen a 68 per cent increase while the number of jobs created by DPIIT recognised start-ups have seen an unprecedented 525 per cent increase over this government’s tenure.

Similarly, the employment generated in BPO/IT Services has been phenomenal. Beyond this, over 1.21 crore people have benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY). The jobs created in gig economy grew more than 3 times in a span of ten years. Not only is this an encouraging economic shift, it is a significant parameter of the society’s progress.

I go beyond – Busting myths

PM Modi-led government’s focus has been on all-around development and overall progress of our youth. Therefore, policies and schemes guided by him represent opportunities that not only create employment but also build entrepreneurship, this in turn transforms the youth from being job seekers to becoming job creators. While on the one hand, the youth of the country are tapping into the Prime Minister’s risk-taking ability and breaking many barriers to achieve success, both conventional and disruptive, on the other hand the Modi government has taken numerous measures to promote entrepreneurship by easing regulations, tax benefits, and reducing compliance burden.

Additionally, to spur the spirit of zealousness, our Amrit Peedhi is also being given an opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces under the Agnipath scheme. Not only does this encourage them to be productively engaged but it also makes them inculcate values of discipline, and patriotism while honing the spirit of team spirit. A transformative reform for recruitment of youth in the Armed Forces as ‘Agniveers’ for a tenure of four years is a unique opportunity to serve the country and contribute to it.  These latter values are also being offered by the government to the hitherto neglected sections to reintegrate them into the mainstream[1]. Mission Youth is a first-of-its-kind initiative that focuses on education and skill development, overall livelihood generation, counselling, sports and recreation just like the Himayat Scheme – another unique skill-training initiative in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the umbrella of the G-20 leadership, India is hosting the Y20 Summit for the first time and is providing audience to the youth from across the world who will be presenting their perspectives and ideas on G20 priorities. The fact that PM Modi-led government considers youth to be an important cog in the wheel of change is evident.  Over the last nine years, a serious intent of empowering the youth by enabling them across myriad opportunities, both in education and livelihood is plainly manifest. The modification in our education policy, the realignment in our mindsets has truly enabled our youth to learn more, to become more and to go beyond all limitations.

Comparative Analysis: Then and Now

• Expenditure on Education Nearly Doubled in last 9 years!
• 2014-15: Rs. 68.9 thousand crore
• 2023-24 (BE): Rs. 112.9 thousand crore

Number of Universities: 46 per cent Increase!

• 2014-15: 760
• 2020-21: 1,113

Enrolment of students in Higher education: 15% increase!    

• 2016-17: 3.57 crore
• 2020-21: 4.13 crore

Number of AIIMS: 3X Increase!

• 2014: 7
• 2023: 23

Number of Medical Colleges: Increase of 71 per cent!

• 2014: 387
• 2013: 660

Number of MBBS seats: Increase of 97 per cent!

• 2014: 51,348
• 2023: 1,01,043

Number of PG seats: Increase of 110 per cent!

• 2014: 31,185
• 2023: 65,335

Budget Allocation for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: 3.5x increase!

• 2015-16: Rs. 1 thousand crore
• 2023-24 (BE): Rs. 3.5 thousand crore

Female enrolment: 28 per cent increase!

• 2014-15: 1.57 crore
• 2020-21: 2.01 crore

 

Gig-economy jobs grew more than 3x times!

• 2011-12 – 25.2 lakh
• 2020-21 – 77 lakhPeriodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Rising Worker Population Ratio
• 2017-18 – 46.8 per cent
• 2020-21 – 52.6 per cent

Number of Jobs created by DPIIT Recognised Start-Ups: 525% Increase!

• 2017: 43,000
• 2022: 269,000

Employment Generated in BPO/IT Services: Numbers gone up by 11 lakh!

• 2017-18: 39.7 lakh
• 2021-22: 51 lakh

Flag Ship Scheme

Expanding Access to Quality Education

• PM eVIDYA initiated to facilitate online education
• DIKSHA platform providing quality e-content for school education in 33 Indian languages
• 11,000 words Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary uploaded on DIKSHA
• 4250 plus Indian Sign Language (ISL) videos produced related to curricular content
• 377 NCERT textbooks have been digitized and provided on e-Pathshala Mobile app
• 3,474 plus chapters of NCERT textbooks have been recorded in audio format and uploaded on DIKSHA for learners
• QR coded Textbooks available for all grades
• SWAYAM Prabha TV channels transmitting education contents 24/7
• Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY)
• Nearly 60 lakh teachers have been trained under NISHTHA
• Digital University being established to provide access to world-class quality universal education with personalised learning experience at their doorsteps

Honing the Skills of our Youth

• 1.37 crore people skilled under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) (FY 2015-16 to December 2022)
• 1.11 crore people skilled under Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) (2014 to 2022)
• 18.73 lakh people skilled under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) (FY 2018-19 to December 2022)
• 15.74 lakh people skilled under Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) (FY 2018-19 to December 2022)
• 1.88 crore persons provided fee-based training by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) till October, 2022
• 13.50 Lakh persons trained under DAY-NULM till December, 2022
• 13.31 Lakh persons trained under DDU-GKY
• 33.64 Lakh persons trained under Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) till December, 2022
• 62,577 beneficiaries under PM YUVA Pilot Project
• 4.35 lakh beneficiaries covered under Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) till 01.02.2023
• 1.53 lakh people trained under Samarth scheme till 09.03.2023
• 1,957 Skill Hubs Initiative (SHI) have been established across the country as on 31.12.2022
• Around 13 lakh learners have signed up on FutureSkills Prime platform and 5.2 lakh candidates have enrolled for various courses

Budget 2023: Opening New Avenues through Skill Development

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 to skill lakhs of youth in new age courses like AI, robotics, mechatronics, 3D printing, drones, etc.
• 30 Skill India International Centres to be set up across different states
• Direct Benefit Transfer to be rolled out to provide stipend support to 47 lakh youth in 3 years
• Unified Skill India Digital Platform to be launched to expanding the digital ecosystem for skilling

Giving Wings to the Dreams of Entrepreneurs

• 40 crore+ loans amounting to ₹23.2 lakh crore sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana since inception
• More than 1.84 lakh loans of Rs 41,513 crore sanctioned to SC/ST and woman borrowers under Stand-Up India Scheme since inception
• More than 99,000 entities recognized as startups since launch of Start-up India
• More than 43.79 lakh youth trained and 30.99 lakh youth settled under Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) (up-to 31st December, 2022)
• More than 2.23 Lakh enterprises set up under Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) (up-to 31st December, 2022)

Creating New Employment Opportunities

• 6.35 crore net new EPFO subscribers added between 2017 upto February 2023
• In the past 6 years (2017-23) more than 6.76 crore people have been employed in the MSME sector
• About 6.24 crore jobs created between 2014 and 2019 in India’s Digital economy
• Over 1.75 core new jobs have been created in the Khadi Industry 2014-2022
• 1.21 crore people benefited under Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
• PM Mudra Yojana (PMMY) helped in generating 1.12 crore net additional employment between 2015 to 2018
• The jobs created in gig economy increased from 25.2 lakh in 2011-12 to 77 lakh in 2020-21
• Over 43.77 lakh estimated employment generated under PMEGP from 2014-15 till November 2022
• Under the Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), estimated employment generation of 36 lakh has been recorded during since 2016-22.
• PMKVY led to placement of 24.51 lakh candidates since 2015
• Over 9 lakh recruited in Railways and Armed forces from 2014-2022
• Over 7.89 lakh candidates placed under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)- 2014-15 till November 2022

Nurturing Sporting Culture Across India

• Khelo India Programme launched to tap hidden sporting talents across the country
• Training and exposure at par with the International standards
• Indigenous sports like Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana and Silambam being promoted
• 2,759 athletes covered for training and financial support
• 733 Khelo India Centres sanctioned
• 297 Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned
• 266 Sports Academies accredited
• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) launched to help athletes with medal prospects excel at international sporting events
• 98 individual athletes & 02 hockey teams (Men’s & Women’s) included in the TOPS core group
• 165 sporting talents identified under the TOPS Development Group

Bringing Youth of Kashmir Back into Mainstream

• Mission Youth is first-of-its-kind initiative that focuses on Livelihood Generation, Education and Skill Development, Counselling, Financial Assistance, Sports and recreation in J&K

o   4500 youth clubs being established under Mission Youth

• Himayat Scheme – a unique skill-training initiative for unemployed youth of J&K

o   Approval granted for training of 90,792 candidates under the Himayat Scheme

• 7 new Medical colleges approved
• 5 new Nursing colleges approved
• IIT Jammu campus inaugurated
• IIM Jammu made functional
• Approval provided for the establishment of AIIMS, one each in Jammu and Kashmir
• Khelo India Winter Games were organised at Gulmarg for the first time

AGNIPATH – Encouraging the Youth to Serve the Nation

• A transformative reform for recruitment of youth in the Armed Forces as ‘Agniveers’ for tenure of 4 years.
• A unique opportunity to the youth to serve the country and contribute to Nation Building.
• Open to men and women between 171/2-21 years of age.
• A shift towards a more youthful and tech savvy military.
• Based on merit & organisational requirements, up to 25 per cent ‘Agniveers’ to join regular cadre.
• Attractive ‘Seva Nidhi’ financial package for Agniveers.
• Adequate re-employment opportunities for those returning to society and who could emerge as role models for the youth.

9 Years Big Achievements: Transforming Education, Creating Opportunities

1.     Around 6.35 crore new subscribers have joined EPFO (during September 2017 to February 2023)

2.    6.24 crore jobs created in digital economy (between 2014-2019)

3.    5.93 crore persons trained under PMGDISHA (till March 2023)

4.     4.5 crore people employed in MSME sector (between 2017-2022)

5.     2.83 crore youth trained under Skill India Mission

6.     1.21 crore people benefited under PM Rojgar Protsahan Yojana

7.    1.12 crore employment generated through MUDRA Yojana (Between 2015 to 2018)

8.    118.2 per cent increase in monthly wages due to PMKVY

9.    56,100+: Increase in number of Higher Secondary Schools (since 2013-14)

On the Global Stage  – Indian Youth Proving their Mettle

• 1st in producing female graduates in STEM
• 1st in Digital Skills Readiness
• 1st in AI Skill Penetration
• 1st in AI Talent Concentration
• 2nd largest higher education system
• 3rd in global scientific publications
• 3rd globally in the number of PhDs produced annually
• 3rd-largest start-up ecosystem in the world

Other Major initiatives

Making Indian Education Future-ready

• 7 new IITs opened since 2014
• 7 new IIMs opened since 2014
• 353 new universities established since 2014
• The number of Secondary Schools increased from 1,41,941 in 2013-14 to 1,50,452 in 2021-22
• The number of Higher Secondary Schools increased from 86,261 in 2013-14 to 1,42,398 in 2021-22
• New Education Policy 2020 to help prepare the youth for the future
• 14,500 Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Schools to emerge as exemplary schools
• Rejuvenation of Basic Infrastructure in approximately 1.20 lakh Government schools approved under Samagra Shiksha scheme
• 3More than 1.20 lakh Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Labs and 82,894 Smart Class rooms sanctioned in Government Schools across India
• 70 new Kendriya Vidyalayas set up in the country in the last 5 years

Ensuring Quality Education for Disadvantaged Youth

• 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for tribal students being established
• 401 EMRSs already functional with 1.13 lakh students enrolled during 2022-23.
• 822 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) sanctioned for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and BPL
• 697 KGBVs already operational with the enrolment of 66% ST girls
• 13.3 lakh ST candidates trained under Skill India from FY 2018-19 to till December 2022
• 1.13 lakh ST students enrolled in EMRS during 2022-23
• 9.63 lakh beneficiaries under Van Dhan Yojana
• 10 lakh tribal youth to be digitally upskill under GOAL 2.0
• 3,857 Training Centres set up in tribal areas under PMKVY
• 27 Tribal Research Institutes being set up in 25 States and 2 UTs

Fostering a Brighter Future for Girl Child

• Since 2014, Sex ratio at Birth improved by 19 points
• Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has increased significantly, from 22.9 in 2014-15 to 27.9 in 2020-21
• Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education has overtaken the male GER since 2017-18

Strengthening Access to Medical Education

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2014 to provide central funding support for new medical colleges
• 157 new medical colleges approved, out of which 94 are already operational
• Today, citizens can access medical education in all languages