“Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable?

With a median age of about 28 and over 60% of the population of working age, India's demographic dividend — a window open till roughly 2055 — will pay only if the workforce is educated, skilled, healthy and creative.

Education and foundational capability

• NEP 2020 with NIPUN Bharat for foundational literacy and numeracy; Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schools; the RTE Act for universal elementary education.
• Higher-education flexibility through the National Credit Framework and multiple entry-exit; SWAYAM and DIKSHA for digital learning.

Skilling and employability

• Skill India Mission (2015): PMKVY 4.0 with new-age courses in AI, drones and green skills; upgraded ITIs; Jan Shikshan Sansthans; the Skill India Digital Hub.
• Work-based learning through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, degree-apprenticeships and the PM Internship Scheme, which targets one crore internships in top companies over five years.

Enterprise, jobs and health

• Startup India, Stand-Up India, MUDRA loans, PMEGP and PM Vishwakarma support self-employment and artisans; PLI schemes and Make in India create manufacturing jobs.
• Ayushman Bharat and POSHAN 2.0 protect the health-nutrition base of productivity; PMGDISHA builds rural digital literacy.

Yet only a small fraction of the Indian workforce has received formal vocational training compared with East Asian economies, female labour-force participation, though rising, remains low, and learning outcomes still lag enrolment gains. The scale, quality and industry-alignment of these measures will decide whether the dividend is harvested or degenerates into a demographic burden.