A NITI Aayog report reveals that 8.7 crore Indian youth aged 15-29 are currently classified as NEET, meaning they are not engaged in education, employment, or training.
The data highlights a significant skilling gap in the country, with millions of young people remaining outside the formal workforce or academic institutions as of August 2026.
The government is now under pressure to implement urgent skilling initiatives to integrate this demographic into the economy and reduce long-term unemployment risks.