India Youth Development Initiatives Progress Report 2026
The Government of India has released a comprehensive progress report on youth development initiatives under the Amrit Peedhi for Viksit Bharat@2047 program. India, with nearly 65% of its population below age 35, has implemented multi-sectoral investments across education, skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, sports, and health to convert demographic advantage into development dividend.
MY Bharat Platform and Digital Engagement
The Mera Yuva Bharat platform, launched in October 2023 for youth aged 15-29, has registered more than 2.22 crore youth as of July 2026 for volunteering, experiential learning, leadership, skilling, and career opportunities. The platform offers over 1.52 lakh volunteering opportunities and has conducted more than 24,900 experiential learning programs connecting youth with governance, healthcare, media, technology, and public service. The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 saw more than 50 lakh youth participation through a nationwide quiz, involving 78 diaspora youth from 21 countries and identifying 6,000 young leaders for a district-wise repository. National Service Scheme volunteer enrolment increased from 34.09 lakh in 2014-15 to 38.90 lakh in 2025-26.
Education System Expansion
India's education system now comprises 14.67 lakh schools serving 24.72 crore students supported by more than 1.02 crore teachers. The secondary-school dropout rate declined significantly from 14.54% in 2013-14 to 7% in 2025-26. Digital infrastructure has expanded with over 1.49 lakh schools covered under ICT and digital initiatives by 2025-26, featuring more than 1.76 lakh smart classrooms and 1.79 lakh ICT laboratories sanctioned as of March 2026. Atal Tinkering Labs have engaged over 1.1 crore student innovators through more than 10,000 labs supporting over 16 lakh projects.
Higher education enrolment increased from 3.4 crore in 2014-15 to 4.5 crore in 2023-24, with female enrolment growing 42.2% since 2014-2015 to reach 2.2 crores in 2023-24. The National Credit Framework has been adopted by more than 700 universities and over 7,500 affiliated colleges. The Academic Bank of Credits has onboarded 3,123 institutions and issued more than 35.27 crore APAAR IDs as of 12th August 2026. SWAYAM platform offers more than 20,370 courses with 6.5 crore+ enrolments, while DIKSHA has recorded 19.06 crore enrolments across 342 courses with 15.02 crore completions and 13 crore certificates issued.
Skilling and Employment Initiatives
The Government has empowered over 6 crore people through skilling initiatives, with the unemployment rate declining from 7.71% in 2014 to 4.2% in 2025. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana has trained more than 1.64 crore youth across four phases since 2015, including industry-linked training in AI, robotics, drones, electronics, and green energy. Jan Shikshan Sansthan trained 36.48 lakh people till March 2026, while the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme engaged more than 54.41 lakh apprentices till March 2026.
India's startup ecosystem grew dramatically from about 350 before 2014 to more than 2.47 lakh by August 2026, making India the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. The Prime Minister's Internship Scheme provided 1,64,902 internship opportunities across 31 sectors as of 12th August 2026. PM-SETU was launched in October 2025 with an estimated outlay of ₹60,000 crore to upgrade 1,000 government ITIs through 200 hubs and 800 spokes. Between 2014 and 2025, ITIs increased from 9,977 to 14,688 with enrolment growing from 9.5 lakh to 14.7 lakh.
Sports Infrastructure and Development
Under the Khelo India scheme, 349 infrastructure projects worth ₹3,176 crore have been approved alongside establishment of 1,067 Khelo India Centres and 267 academies supporting 2,745 athletes. Since 2018, more than 63,000 athletes have participated in various Khelo India Games. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme supports 51 Core, 52 Para Core and 130 Development athletes with monthly stipends of ₹50,000 for Core and ₹25,000 for Development athletes. The revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced support for National Sports Federations have a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Health and Wellness Programs
Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics increased from 6,619 in 2014-15 to 7,203 in 2021-22, with adolescents receiving clinical and counselling services rising from 39 lakh to 82 lakh in the same period. In 2024-25 up to November 2024, 97.67 lakh youth registered in clinics. Tele-MANAS has handled over 43.70 lakh calls through 53 cells supported by 23 mentoring institutes and five Regional Coordinating Centres as of 12th August 2026. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has reached over 30.05 crore people including 11.86 crore youth, conducted over 28.56 lakh activities in educational institutions, and provided treatment and rehabilitation support to over 28.29 lakh persons.