NITI Aayog Flags 8.7 Crore Indian Youth as NEET, 88% Tied to Domestic Duties

1 articles · Updated · India Today · Aug 21

8.7 crore Indians aged 15-29 are outside education, employment and training, with NITI Aayog saying roughly 88% of that group is engaged in domestic duties rather than formal work or study.
11% of the mapped youth segment falls into the NEET category, and the report says financial strain, lost income during training and limited flexible learning options keep many from entering skilling programs.
Women face the sharpest constraints: just 3% are in formal jobs, while caregiving, household work, safety concerns and restricted mobility often make even nearby training centres hard to access.
68% of women surveyed prefer part-time skilling and 30% short-duration courses, pushing the report to recommend local training spaces, skill vouchers and hyperlocal flexible work.
The report argues India needs a non-linear skilling system with re-entry routes through short courses, micro-credentials and apprenticeships, treating lifelong learning as a path back to work.