100-Day Initiatives for Empowering Yuva Shakti

The first 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic third term have set an inspiring tone for India’s future. Under his leadership, the Union Government has introduced ‘Vision Viksit Bharat@2047,’ envisioning India as a superpower with youth playing a pivotal role. To harness the country’s greatest asset—its youth—the government has implemented various initiatives to improve education and job opportunities. Key decisions include the addition of 75,000 new medical seats, the inauguration of Nalanda University, and an allocation of ₹11.11 lakh crore for capital expenditure, all aimed at enhancing opportunities for young people. Additionally, the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 will be crucial in driving job creation and empowering youth across the nation.

Educational Reforms

In the pursuit of building a bright and empowered future for the youth of India, the Government has undertaken a series of ambitious initiatives focused on education and skill development.

The Government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats. There is an increase of 88% in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 731 as of now. Further, 75,000 new medical seats are increased to enhance healthcare infrastructure and reduce overseas reliance.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 came into effect on June 21, 2024, is designed to prevent unfair practices and organized malpractices in public examinations. The Act upholds the integrity of exams by addressing issues such as leaks and misconduct, ensuring fairness and protecting the merit of students and job seekers.

Inauguration of new campus of Nalanda University, Bihar:

On June 19, 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir, Bihar. The campus features two academic blocks with 40 classrooms, accommodating approximately 1,900 students. It also includes a student hostel with a capacity of around 550, alongside several other facilities such as an International Centre, an amphitheater with seating for up to 2,000 people, a Faculty Club, and a Sports Complex, among others.

Vigyan Dhara Scheme:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of three umbrella schemes, which have been merged into a unified central sector scheme called ‘Vigyan Dhara’ under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The proposed budget for implementing this unified scheme is ₹10,579.84 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period, spanning from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance the capacity of science and technology (S&T) to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the country.

Initiatives to Protect Youth from Drug Menace

Government has taken various information technology driven initiatives in the field of Drug Law Enforcement. Some of the initiatives are as under: –

MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra) helpline was launched by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah to assist and report drug-related issues, contributing to Nasha Mukta Bharat. MANAS will have a toll-free number 1933, a web portal, a mobile app and UMANG app so that citizens of the country can anonymously connect with NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) 24×7 for seeking advice on de-addiction and rehabilitation, sharing information on drug trafficking.

The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, has developed a “ToFEI Implementation Manual” for schools, launched on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), observed on May 31, 2024. The goal of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) campaign is to ensure that educational institutions nationwide adhere to the ToFEI guidelines and become #TobaccoFree Areas.

Paving the Way for a Brighter Future in Sports

To promote talent development and inclusivity in athletics, the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) Program has been launched. KIRTI aims to cultivate sporting talent among the youth. Khelo India has made a significant contribution to India’s Mission Olympics; in fact, 25% of the Indian contingent (28 athletes) at the Paris Summer Olympics 2024 were Khelo India athletes.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, India’s largest-ever contingent, comprising 117 athletes, competed in 16 sports disciplines. This diverse team included 70 men and 47 women, participating in 69 events, all backed by a substantial funding allocation of over ₹470 crore. As a result, they secured six medals for India, which included one silver and five bronze.

In the just concluded Paris Paralympics, India secured a record 29 medals, including 7 Gold, 9 Silver, and 13 Bronze, marking its best-ever Paralympic performance.

Skill Development Initiatives   

To enhance the skills of India’s youth, 3,000 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been established. Additionally, the upgrade of 1,000 ITIs has helped upskill 20 lakh youth.

Launched on August 26, 2021, e-Shram is a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). Its main purpose is to facilitate the delivery of welfare benefits and social security measures to workers in the unorganised sector across the country. Recently, on August 31, 2024, e-Shram achieved a significant milestone by completing 30 crore registrations.

National Career Service (NCS) portal was launched in July, 2015 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. It provides a variety of employment related services like job search & matching, career counseling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses etc. The portal reports active vacancies based on vacancies registered by the employers.

Milestone reached by the NCS portal:

• The number of active vacancies on NCS portal crossed the milestone of 20 lakh ( on any single day)  for the first time ever on 30th July 2024.
• During FY 2024-25, till date, more than 83 lakh vacancies have been mobilized.
• National Career Service (NCS) portal is being upgraded to NCS 2.0 providing a more user-friendly and efficient interface for job seekers and employers.

Employment Generation

Over the years, youth employment has been increasing alongside the growing youth population. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the unemployment rate among youth (ages 15-29) has decreased from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10% in 2022-23, while the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for this age group has risen from 38.2% to 44.5% during the same period. The Indian government has introduced various schemes aimed at generating employment and promoting skill development.

Skilling 20 lakh youth over a 5-year period

While presenting the Union Budget 2024-25 in Parliament, the Finance Minister announced that 20 lakh youth will be skilled over a period of 5-years and 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes will be upgraded.

Allocation of Capital Expenditure of 11.11 lakh Crores

To sustain robust fiscal support for infrastructure over the next five years, alongside other priorities and fiscal consolidation efforts, ₹11,11,111 crore has been allocated for capital expenditure this year, accounting for 3.4% of our GDP.

Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme

The “Schemes for Employment Linked Incentive,” part of the Prime Minister’s package, was announced in the Union Budget for 2024-25. These schemes focus on the enrollment of first-time employees in the EPFO and provide support to both employees and employers. Over the next two years, the scheme is expected to benefit approximately one crore individuals each year.

Scheme for Internship Opportunities to 1 crore youth

This scheme aims to provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth, bridging the gap between education and employment. The initiative will help young people gain practical work experience, develop skills, and improve their employability in various sectors. This program provides 12 months of real-life business exposure, with an internship allowance of ₹5,000 per month and a one-time assistance of ₹6,000. Participating companies will cover training costs and 10% of the internship costs from their CSR funds.

Recruitment of Doctors and Teaching Faculties in ESIC

• ESIC has undertaken recruitment of doctors and faculty for hospitals and medical institutions offering appointments to 1221 doctors/ faculty/ specialist, comprising 860 General Duty Medical Officers, 330 Assistant Professors and 31 Specialists.

Launch of MIS Portal for Building & other Construction Workers and Inter-State Migrant Workers (ISMW)

• With an objective to ensure saturation of welfare schemes in respect of BoCWs (Building and Other Construction Workers ) and ISMWs (Inter-State Migrant Workmen) from the States/UTs, the MIS Portal has been launched on 21^st August, 2024, and almost all States/UTs have started entering the data. More than 5.71 Crore BoCWs have been registered by States/UTs.
• Once the data is entered by all States/UTs, it will be easier to track the Cess collection, its utilisation etc for BoCWs.
• The MIS will give various details in respect of Inter-State Migrant Workers thus helping in taking policy initiatives for their welfare and social security.

Development of Integrated Dashboard for Employment Data

The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) is currently working on a dashboard to capture data on employment generated by various schemes, programs, and projects implemented by different Ministries and Departments.

Conclusion

By equipping young people with relevant skills, India can harness its demographic dividend and drive economic growth while reducing unemployment rates. Programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Craftsmen Training Scheme, and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme have collectively trained millions, promoting inclusivity and empowering women in traditionally underrepresented sectors. These efforts not only address current talent shortages across various industries but also prepare India’s youth for the demands of a rapidly changing global economy. Looking ahead, continued investment and collaboration among government, industry, and educational institutions will be essential to ensure that every young Indian has access to quality skill development opportunities.

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