Roadmap for Answer Writing
-
Introduction
- Define the concept of demographic dividend and its significance for India.
- State the importance of education, awareness, skills, and creativity in realizing this dividend.
- Present the objective: to discuss the measures taken by the government to enhance the capacity of the population.
-
Body
- Skill Development Initiatives:
- Discuss the National Skill Development Mission launched in 2015.
- Highlight the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and its impact on training youth in industry-relevant skills.
- Fact: Over 10 million youth have been trained under PMKVY as of 2021.
- Education Reforms:
- Explain the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- Emphasize its focus on foundational literacy, vocational education, and improving access to quality education.
- Fact: The NEP aims to increase Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035 .
- Make in India Initiative:
- Describe the objectives of the Make in India initiative launched in 2014.
- Discuss how it aims to create a global manufacturing hub and generate employment opportunities.
- Fact: The initiative has attracted significant foreign direct investment (FDI), contributing to job creation.
- Start-up India:
- Outline the goals of the Start-up India initiative launched in 2016.
- Discuss how it fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, leading to job creation.
- Fact: Over 50,000 start-ups have been recognized under this initiative, contributing to employment .
- National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS):
- Explain the purpose of NAPS in promoting apprenticeship training.
- Discuss its role in creating industry-ready skilled workers.
- Fact: NAPS incentivizes employers to engage apprentices, facilitating on-the-job training.
- Digital India Initiative:
- Highlight the objectives of the Digital India initiative in promoting digital literacy.
- Discuss how it prepares the workforce for participation in the digital economy.
- Fact: The initiative aims to provide internet access to over 600,000 villages.
- Skill Development Initiatives:
-
Conclusion
- Summarize the key measures taken by the government to enhance the capacity of the population.
- Emphasize the need for continuous efforts and effective implementation to fully realize the demographic dividend.
Enhancing India’s Manpower Capacity for Optimal Utilization of Demographic Dividend
Introduction India’s demographic dividend represents a valuable opportunity for economic growth, contingent upon the effective development of its young workforce. To capitalize on this potential, significant efforts are required to enhance education, skills, and creativity among the population.
Government Measures to Enhance Productivity and Employability
Recent Examples:
Conclusion To leverage the demographic dividend, the Indian government has implemented significant measures such as Skill India Mission, NEP 2020, and Startup India. These initiatives aim to improve education, skills, and innovation, ensuring that the workforce is well-equipped to contribute productively to the economy.
Model Answer
Introduction
India boasts one of the world’s largest and youngest populations, with approximately 65% of its populace in the working-age group of 15-64 years as of 2023. This demographic dividend offers potential economic advantages, but these benefits can only be realized if the population is educated, skilled, and employable. Recognizing this, the Indian government has implemented various measures to enhance the capacity of its workforce.
Body
1. Skill Development Initiatives
The National Skill Development Mission, launched in 2015, aims to create a cohesive strategy for skill development across sectors. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is a flagship program under this mission, targeting the training of millions in industry-relevant skills to boost employability and entrepreneurship. As of 2021, over 10 million youth have been trained under PMKVY (Source: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship).
2. Education Reforms
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been a significant reform, emphasizing foundational literacy, numeracy, and the integration of vocational education. The NEP seeks to improve access, equity, and quality in higher education, fostering a well-rounded and skilled workforce (Source: Ministry of Education).
3. Make in India Initiative
Launched in 2014, this initiative aims to transform India into a global manufacturing hub by encouraging investment and innovation. By creating employment opportunities, it enhances the employability of the population and promotes skill development (Source: Make in India official website).
4. Start-up India
Introduced in 2016, this initiative fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by simplifying regulations and providing financial support. It indirectly generates job opportunities and encourages skill development across various sectors (Source: Start-up India official website).
5. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
Launched in 2016, NAPS promotes apprenticeship training to create industry-ready skilled workers. It incentivizes employers to engage apprentices, facilitating on-the-job training (Source: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship).
6. Digital India
This initiative aims to empower society digitally by promoting digital literacy and improving internet connectivity. By enhancing digital skills, the government prepares the workforce for participation in the digital economy (Source: Digital India initiative).
Conclusion
These measures reflect the government’s commitment to improving education, skill development, and employability in India. However, continuous efforts, effective implementation, and monitoring are crucial to ensuring that the demographic dividend translates into tangible economic benefits.