Author(s): Dr. Sanchita Saha
Abstract:
This article explores the critical trajectory of India’s demographic transition, specifically focusing on the pivotal window between 2021 and 2056. While the nation’s "youth bulge" presents a profound theoretical opportunity for unprecedented GDP growth, this paper contends that the "dividend" is not an automated economic guarantee. Through a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary lens, the study examines the fundamental pillars of human capital development, including education, healthcare, and systemic labor market reforms. The core argument posits that the dividend’s success is contingent upon a radical shift in two specific areas: the dramatic expansion of Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) and a structural transition from a traditional "degree-based" academic culture to a high-utility "skill-based" education system. Without these interventions, the surging working-age population risks being underutilized, potentially transforming the promised dividend into a "demographic disaster" characterized by social instability and chronic underemployment. The study concludes by proposing a cohesive, strategic framework for policy intervention at both the Union and State levels, emphasizing the need for regional flexibility to address the growing demographic asymmetry between India's north and south.
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