India's youth unemployment crisis pressures Modi government

India is grappling with a sharp rise in youth unemployment. Official data show that the unemployment rate for 15‑ to 29‑year‑olds reached 16.2% in June, up from 13.8% a year earlier, and a study indicates that about 40% of graduates are unemployed. Between 2014 and 2022 more than 22 crore applications were submitted for central government jobs, yet only about 7.2 lakh appointments were made, highlighting a widening gap between expectations and available positions.

The economic strain has spilled into politics. Over the weekend the education minister resigned after growing pressure from Generation Z activists and the newly formed “Cockroach Janta Party,” a movement that amplified youth discontent. Analysts note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in power since 2014, is confronting an unprecedented challenge from young voters as the 2029 general election approaches. The situation underscores the need for labour‑intensive industrialisation, education reform, and expanded private‑sector employment to turn India’s demographic dividend into real economic opportunity.