India's dominance in higher education increases, records are being made like this
Access to higher education has increased rapidly in India, leading to a shift in youth from agriculture to industry and service sectors and a reduction in inequalities.
India has made significant progress over the past four decades in expanding access to higher education for young people, enabling them to move from agriculture to industry and the service sector, and reducing gender and caste-based disparities.
The "State of Working India 2026" report on education highlights this. The report also notes that challenges remain, and that the extent to which this large, increasingly educated, and ambitious group of young people are able to enter the job market will determine whether India's "demographic dividend" translates into economic benefits or fails to deliver significant benefits.
The report states that India has made significant progress in expanding access to higher education for its young population, particularly those aged 15 to 29. This has ensured that people move from agriculture to industry and the service sector, and has also reduced gender and caste-related inequalities.
How the report is made
The report, based on government data from the past four decades, examines how youth participation in education and employment has changed, how well this "demographic dividend" has been utilized, and what challenges and opportunities arise in integrating them into jobs.
Rosa Abraham, lead author of the report and associate professor of economics at Azim Premji University, said, "This report traces the journey of a young worker, from education to job search to employment, and how this transition has evolved over the past 40 years.
We hope this report will provide some insights that will help us better understand the challenges faced during this transition and inform better policy development."
The report's key findings indicate that India's demographic dividend is nearing its peak.
The report states that the share of India's working-age population will begin to decline after 2030. The pace of job creation in the future will determine whether India's demographic dividend truly translates into an economic advantage.
The education level of the youth has improved
The level of education among youth has improved significantly over the past four decades, and this improvement has been particularly pronounced among women.