NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive report titled "Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047" which provides a blueprint for a skilling architecture aligned to the needs of India's development vision. The report identifies five key segments of learners and workforce, including NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) youth in the age group 15-29 years. This category specifically includes young people engaged in voluntary work/household enterprise, attending domestic duties, not able to work due to health conditions, spending leisure time, and others.
The government has clarified that the figure of 8.7 crore NEET youth mentioned in certain sections has been misinterpreted as unemployed. The NEET category refers specifically to those not seeking employment and cannot be read as a measure of joblessness or as an addition to the unemployment rate. The unemployed represent an entirely separate category drawn from a different population base than that used for the NEET estimate.
The report utilizes data from the NSS 78th Round collected during the COVID-19 pandemic (FY 2020-21), a period of significant disruption in education and employment. The figures stated in the report may therefore deviate from normal trajectory, which is apparent from the significantly lower youth NEET percentage in the most recent PLFS round (PLFS 2025).
The government emphasizes its commitment to robust evidence-based policymaking, noting the introduction of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in 2017-18 which replaced the previous five-year NSSO surveys. Since January 2025, PLFS has undergone further improvements including shifting the survey period to a January-December calendar year cycle to align with international practices.
In preparation for Viksit Bharat@2047, the government has proactively begun implementing key reforms suggested in the report through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The Union Budget 2026-27 introduced the ₹600 crore Integrated Scheme in Skilling Architecture (ISSA) as a precursor to the report's launch, demonstrating the government's intent to strengthen convergence across education, skilling, employment, and lifelong learning systems.