New Delhi, July 8 -- Economist and author Surjit Bhalla challenged the prevailing narrative surrounding India's unemployment crisis, arguing that the intense public demand for government jobs is driven more by a desire for permanent security than a genuine lack of employment opportunities in the broader economy.

Speaking exclusively to ANI, Bhalla, a former part-time member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Economic Advisory Council, pushed back against critics who suggested the country is facing a widespread job crisis. He pointed to historical data trends, noting that the unemployment rate for the core working-age population (ages 29-64) has consistently remained at a low of 1 to 2 per cent since 1983.

"Since 1983, the government has ...