| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: Highlight challenges posed by India’s ageing population & policy measures to address this. Conclusion: Way forward |
India stands at a critical juncture with its demographic dividend—67.3% of the population is in the working age group (15-59 years), a window of opportunity that will persist for the next three decades. However, whether this large workforce can drive India towards its $7 trillion GDP target by 2030 depends on its ability to achieve high productivity and wealth creation.
Current Status and Challenges
- Skill Deficiencies: A mismatch between educational outcomes and industry needs has led to a paradox where unemployment coexists with a lack of employable skills. The focus on rote learning rather than critical thinking and problem-solving skills further limits the potential for innovation and productivity.
- Health and Nutrition Deficiencies Start Early: Cognitive and physical development, which begins at the foetal stage and continues into adolescence, is compromised due to poor maternal nutrition, inadequate child healthcare, and insufficient investment in early childhood education.
- Poor Health and Nutritional Status:
- Anaemia: NFHS-5 reports that 57% of women and 25% of men in the 15-49 age group are anaemic. Among adolescents (15-24 years), 59% of girls and 31% of boys suffer from anaemia, which affects cognitive abilities, productivity, and physical development.
- Low BMI: Around 18.7% of women and 16.2% of men in the 15-49 age group have a BMI below normal, while for adolescents, 54.9% of girls and 52.6% of boys have normal BMI. Malnutrition continues to impair overall physical health and workforce efficiency.
Policy Measures to Harness the Demographic Dividend
- Reforming Education for Foundational and Advanced Learning
- Early Childhood Education: Strengthen programs under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to focus on foundational literacy and numeracy through quality pre-school education.
- Enhancing Learning Outcomes: Implement robust remedial education programs in primary and secondary schools to bridge learning gaps identified in ASER reports.
- Tackling Health and Nutritional Deficiencies
- Combating Anaemia and Malnutrition: Expand and strengthen programs like Poshan Abhiyaan and Mid-Day Meal Scheme to improve nutrition outcomes among children, adolescents, and women.
- Healthcare Access for Adolescents: Integrate adolescent health programs under Ayushman Bharat to focus on anaemia screening, mental health support, and preventive care.
- Bridging Skill Gaps for Employability
- Vocational Training: Scale up programs like Skill India and PMKVY to impart industry-relevant skills. Integrate skilling with digital literacy and modern technologies.
- Apprenticeship Programs: Promote apprenticeship and on-the-job training in collaboration with industries to ensure practical skill development.
Conclusion
India’s demographic dividend presents an unprecedented opportunity, but it remains unrealized due to significant deficiencies in education, health, and skill development. Immediate and targeted policy interventions focusing on foundational learning, nutrition, healthcare, and skilling are imperative to develop a healthy, skilled, and productive workforce. By addressing these gaps, India can unlock its demographic potential and position itself as a global economic powerhouse, achieving its $7 trillion GDP target by 2030.
