India, the third-largest economy of the world in terms of GDP, with an estimated population of approximately 1.46 billion, and poverty mocking the faces of today's youth. "A jobless youth is a nation's loss." An estimated 10.2% of today's youth remain unemployed, which presents us with a grim image of the unemployment situation. Now we know the cause of the increasing trend of Indian youth migrating abroad, even after working tooth and nail to secure a good future. The situation is totally contrasting. People, especially youth, are losing heart in the Indian setup for providing jobs. With lakhs of youth migrating to foreign countries in the prospect of a better future, this further accounts for brain drain, a phenomenon in which a major portion of a nation's population, which is skilled as well as insightful, leaves the country. Brain drain could eventually lead to little or no progress in a country's development. Unemployment is another characteristic of a developing nation, a nation that is still undergoing changes. With a population this tremendous, development becomes a slow and gradual process. With the expansion of the number of universities, the number of educated young people is increasing, and unemployment has increased.

The manifold increase in population has increased the pressure of unemployment. Providing jobs to such a large number of people is a great challenge for the government and also essential for maintaining a good standard of living. Rising aspirations of the middle class further intensify this problem, as expectations of decent employment are not always met. This mismatch between qualifications and opportunities creates frustration and social unrest.

Secondly, slow economic growth is another cause of unemployment. The economy of developing countries is underdeveloped and fails to create enough jobs for the people. Lack of capital and investment further slows it. India is mainly an agricultural country, and agriculture here is a seasonal occupation. It provides work for a small part of the year, so people remain unemployed for the remaining period. People are also disguisedly unemployed. A great number of people are engaged in agriculture, but their contribution is limited. With agriculture as the dominant occupation of India, disguised and seasonal unemployment is a usual consequence.

Poverty is another cause that is constantly contributing towards unemployment. Poverty is both the cause as well as the consequence of unemployment. With poverty lingering like a sword over the families, their capacity to save is limited. In meeting their necessities, they are unable to save much. Hence, their capacity to save and invest decreases. This decrease in turn decreases employment. With fewer employment opportunities, unemployment prevails in the economy.

Another cause of unemployment lies in the immobility of labour. A large section of people remain unemployed because they lack funds and means to migrate and seek jobs in other parts. The migratory character of Indian labour is weak and accounts to employment in particular areas.

Unemployment is a curse for the economy. "A young idler will be an old beggar" — this proverb fits the situation perfectly. The need of the hour is to make jobs available to the youth. Though government has launched many schemes, the best known is MNREGA, still more than 40 million people are unemployed in India.

The solution lies in the joint efforts of both public as well as private sector. Government should extend public works which would not only help in providing employment to the youth but would also help in improving public amenities. The government should provide incentives and securities to small industries for their promotion. Universities and colleges should focus more on vocational and skill-based education.

Policies should be implemented to check the sharp increase in population. Better means of transport and trade routes should be implemented, which would increase trade-route connectivity, hence, employment. Agriculture should be advanced with HYV seeds, tools and techniques. The rural population should be given training in skill-based programmes. Artisans should adopt modern techniques of weaving, handicrafts and other small-based enterprises. Start-ups and small entrepreneurship should be encouraged. 

Moreover, the role of technology and digital advancement cannot be ignored. With the rise of the digital economy, e-commerce, and start-ups, newer avenues of employment are emerging. If properly channelised, India’s vast youth population can be absorbed in fields like information technology, renewable energy, healthcare, and service sectors. At the same time, promoting vocational training and skill-based education in rural and semi-urban areas will ensure that opportunities are not restricted only to big cities but are spread evenly across the country. 

Along with this, equal attention should be given to women employment. A large share of India’s female population remains outside the organised workforce due to social and cultural barriers. Encouraging women to participate in jobs not only reduces unemployment but also strengthens families financially and contributes to national growth. If half of the country’s population is left out of productive employment, then development can never be complete.

Unemployment also has a psychological and social impact. A young person without a job often suffers from low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. This affects family life and sometimes leads to crimes or anti-social activities. When lakhs of educated graduates remain unemployed, it gives rise to dissatisfaction with the system and increases unrest in society. Thus, unemployment is not just an economic issue but also a serious social problem.

It is also important to compare India’s situation with other countries. Nations like China have successfully absorbed their population into manufacturing and industry by creating large-scale employment opportunities, while developed countries like the USA focus on innovation-driven jobs. India must learn from such models and design policies that combine both approaches—labour-intensive industries to absorb large numbers and innovation-based industries to drive future growth.

India possesses the ability to leave its footprint across the world. Feeding and providing jobs to 1.46 billion people is an arduous task. India assures to provide a sustainable nation despite the challenges it faces today, be it political or socio-economic. If India manages to convert its huge youth population from being job-seekers to job-creators, then unemployment will not be a curse but rather a stepping stone towards a stronger, self-reliant nation. Ours is an emerging economy which, once it comes to power, will be Unshakable.

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