India, March 23 -- There is something deeply unsettling about a country that celebrates its demographic dividend. We speak of India as the world's youngest nation, a rising economic force, a talent powerhouse, and a superpower in the making. But beneath that narrative lies a statistic that should force us to pause, reflect, and engage in deep introspection.

The youth we proudly call our assets face a huge dilemma: to be educated or not? Nearly 40% of our graduates under 25 and 20% between 25 and 29 are unemployed! This is despite educational enrolment over the last four decades having grown substantially.

The State of Working India 2026, published by Azim Premji University, states that "the transition from education to employment remain...