World Population Day 2025: A Call to Empower India’s Youth

Every year, July 11 is observed as World Population Day, a global reminder initiated by the United Nations in 1989 to spotlight population-related challenges and reproductive health rights. This year’s theme — “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world” — places the youth at the center of the conversation.

But what does this mean for India, home to the largest youth population in the world?

---

India’s Youth: The Demographic Pulse of a Nation

With over 371 million people aged 15 to 29 (UNICEF), India is a nation powered by its young. However, projections show this number may decline to 22.7% by 2036, according to the Government’s Technical Group on Population Projections.

This shift carries both urgency and opportunity. A youthful population can fuel innovation, productivity, and economic growth — what economists call a demographic dividend. But only if we nurture it right.

---

From Policy to Progress: India’s Youth Agenda

India has been shaping youth policy since the late 1980s:

• 1988: The first National Youth Policy recognized youth as catalysts of development.

• 2003: Broadened the definition of youth (13–35 years) and emphasized patriotism and justice.

• 2014: Focused on empowerment, productivity, and global competitiveness (15–29 years).

• 2024 (Draft NYP): Envisions a 10-year roadmap aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Highlights include:

  • Life and career skills aligned with NEP 2020

  • Mental and reproductive health focus

  • Digital empowerment and leadership

  • Social justice and inclusion for marginalized youth

---

Why India’s Youth Matter — Today More Than Ever

1. Economic Powerhouse

If harnessed well, India’s youth could add $1 trillion to GDP by 2030 (World Bank/NITI Aayog).

2. Startup Energy

India is now the third-largest startup ecosystem, driven largely by young founders and innovators.

3. Global Talent Export

Countries like Germany and Japan, facing ageing populations, are turning to India to fill skilled labor gaps.

4. Cultural & Civic Leadership

From viral digital content to grassroots activism, young Indians are reshaping narratives and breaking barriers — as seen in movements like Pinjra Tod and Swachh Bharat youth drives.

---

Challenges That Demand Urgency

Yet, India’s youth face a range of pressing issues:

• Reproductive health gaps: 36% unintended pregnancies; 23% still experience child marriage.

• Gender inequality: Patriarchal barriers persist in education, careers, and financial independence.

• Mental health crisis: Over 60,700 suicide deaths (2020–22) in the 15–29 age group — the highest globally.

• Unemployment & Skill mismatch: Educated but underemployed, many youth are pushed into the gig economy.

• Substance abuse: Rising addiction with limited support infrastructure.

---

Empowerment: From Vision to Action

Here’s what must be prioritized:

Education Overhaul

Move beyond rote learning. Embed critical thinking, digital fluency, and vocational skills into mainstream education via NEP 2020.

Skills for Jobs

Launch large-scale apprenticeship programs, sectoral upskilling missions, and financial support for youth-led startups.

Mental & Reproductive Health

Scale up mental health services, nutritional programs, and rural reproductive care — including access to contraception and health education.

Arts, Sports, and Culture

Fund rural training centers, empower young artists, and promote global cultural exchange.

Digital Equity

Bridge the digital divide through last-mile internet access, youth-centric tech training, and inclusive participation in the Digital India movement.

---

The Road Ahead: Youth at the Heart of India's Future

India stands at a pivotal moment. With the largest youth population in human history, we hold the keys to our global rise — if we choose to invest wisely.

Let this World Population Day 2025 not just be about numbers, but about nurturing the dreams, rights, and potential of every young Indian. Empowered youth aren’t just beneficiaries of change — they are its boldest architects.

Boon or Bane?

By the time you are reading this, our population would have crossed 125crores and more. The figure literally gives us jitter if one is worried about the future of our country. It is not a joke, in days to come if one said to another, “Hey man! Just move a bit, I have got a new born babe. It needs some space!”

It is the habit of every Indian to expect someone to provide us a solution for our problems. Or one can say, our Government has pampered us to behave so by giving all the solutions ready made. However, in this particular issue, despite many measures from Government, the population growth is beyond one’s control.

This is the Government’s responsibility, although, to take some measures for this problem, we cannot expect the Govt to enter our bedrooms for such control. The control is in the hands of us, we the citizens of India.

It is the high time we had some stringent rules for this population control. While the southern part of India had almost achieved zero population growth, it is the reverse on the Hindi-heartlands. States like Rajastan, Madhyapradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkand, Uttaranchal, Uttarpradesh, Maharashtra are not severe in implementing this.

A recent news tabloid gave me another jolt. Since the community of Parsis is shrinking, they encouraged their community personnel to have more children. Parsi community did not shrink because they adapted birth-control but because they banned those who married outside their community. If such narrow-minded people were made leaders of communities, India definitely had it.

Same is the case with Islam religion. They are not bothered about the consequences of having more and more children. Their growth rate is phenomenal and the Govts for the sake of votes keep mum on this and are shying away from pressing the panic button.

We should have following rules:

• Pay tax if you had more than 2 kids (this should be a hefty penalty)
• One cannot be eligible to be a Government servant if he / she had more than two kids. If they were employed prior to their marriage and had kids later, their employment should be terminated. They should not be made eligible for pension also
• Leaders of this country have to lead by example in this. One cannot contest election if he had more than two kids nor he can be nominated to RS.
• Free treatment in Government hospitals are eligible only if the family had birth-control. If they violated, the charges will be doubled
• Same rule should be applied to school fees also.
• (I am not recommending imprisonment, because, imprisonment guarantees food without any job being done and adds burden to the Government)
  

Will these happen? ….. Contd…..