New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- An estimated 8.7 crore Indians aged 15-29 are not engaged in education, employment or training, highlighting the need for affordable skilling programmes linked to self-employment, local demand and emerging sectors, according to a NITI Aayog report.

The report, titled 'Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047', said the estimate is based on data from the 78th round of the National Sample Survey conducted in 2021.

NITI Aayog has divided India's workforce and learners into five segments, school education, tertiary education, formal and informal employment, youth not in education, employment or training (NEET), and women, to identify segment-specific skilling requirements.

The report defines NEET youth as those age...