NITI Aayog released a report titled “Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047” which provides a blueprint for a skilling architecture, aligned to the needs of ‘Viksit Bharat’. The report identifies 5 key segments of learners /workforce, including NEET youth in the age group 15-29 years. This is defined as a set of young people who fall under the following categories: (i) Engaged in voluntary work/ household enterprise; (ii) Attending domestic duties; (iii) Not able to work due to health condition; (iv) Spending leisure time; and (v) Others.

In certain sections, the figure of 8.7 crore NEET youth has been misinterpreted as unemployed. The category of NEET in the report refers to those not seeking employment, and the acronym NEET stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training. Therefore, it cannot be read as a measure of joblessness or as an addition to the unemployment rate. The unemployed represent an entirely separate category, drawn from a different population base than that used for the NEET estimate.

The NITI Aayog Report has clearly stated that the database utilised in computation of these figures is based on NSS 78th Round which was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic (FY 2020–21). It was a time of disruption in the field of education and employment and hence the figures stated in the report could be a deviation from the normal trajectory. This is apparent from the fact that the youth NEET percentage is significantly lower in the most recent PLFS round (PLFS 2025).

The government is committed to robust and evidence-based policymaking. As a step to facilitate the same, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was introduced in 2017-18, ushering in annual estimates in contrast to the earlier regime of NSSO Employment-Unemployment Surveys which were conducted once every five years and hence leaving a trail of considerable lag in actual indices. To further strengthen the evaluation and aligning with international practice, since January 2025, PLFS underwent a further improvement including the shifting of survey period to January-December calendar year cycle.

With a vision to achieve Viksit Bharat@2047, the Government is taking all measures to skill our youth and prepare them for future growth. Hence, even before the publication of the report, the Government has proactively started the implementation of the key reforms suggested in the report through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Introduction of the ₹600 crore, Integrated Scheme in Skilling Architecture (ISSA) in the Union Budget 2026–27 as a precursor to the launch of the said report makes the intent of the government amply clear, which is to strengthen convergence across education, skilling, employment, and lifelong learning systems.

 

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