87 Million Indians Outside Education, Employment or Training: NITI Aayog

New analysis by NITI Aayog has identified approximately 8.7 crore Indians who are neither studying, working, nor undergoing vocational training—a demographic category referred to as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The findings underscore significant gaps in labor force participation across the country.

The data reveals that roughly 88 percent of this NEET population is occupied with domestic duties, including household management, childcare, and family responsibilities. This concentration suggests that a substantial segment of India's working-age population remains outside formal economic activity, with household obligations serving as the primary constraint on their participation in education or employment.

The NITI Aayog assessment highlights structural challenges in India's labor market and skills development ecosystem. The prevalence of domestic responsibility as the dominant factor keeping individuals outside the formal workforce points to broader issues related to gender roles, infrastructure gaps, and access to training opportunities.

Government officials and economists have flagged the NEET population as a policy priority, noting that mobilizing this segment could strengthen India's demographic dividend and support broader economic growth objectives. Addressing barriers to workforce participation, particularly among women disproportionately engaged in domestic duties, remains a key challenge for policymakers.