Nearly 250 districts have over 25% youth out of work, education

The problem is particularly pronounced across northern India. In Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal, around two-thirds of districts have nearly a quarter of their young population classified as NEET — not in employment, education or training.

The survey also found that in nearly half the districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Telangana, at least 25% of the youth population falls into the NEET category.

A recent Niti Aayog report estimated that nearly nine crore young people in the country are NEET. The government, however, has clarified that the NEET category should not be equated directly with unemployment.

At the other end of the spectrum, around 25 districts recorded NEET rates below 10%. These include Kabirdham, Rajnandgaon and Uttar Bastar Kanker in Chhattisgarh; Chamba in Himachal Pradesh; Ernakulam in Kerala; and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh.

Nabarangpur in Odisha recorded the lowest NEET rate at 4.1%.

The statistics ministry's report covered around 600 districts across major states and Union territories. In some instances, adjoining districts were combined and treated as a single unit for the survey.

Why NEET matters

Youth unemployment rates are often viewed alongside participation in education, skilling or vocational programmes, which can explain why a young person may not be part of the workforce.

The NEET measure captures a different group: young people who are neither enrolled in an educational institution nor participating in the labour force. This can include those involved in unpaid domestic or care work, particularly women, as well as people who have stopped looking for jobs because suitable work is unavailable.

The category can also include young people preparing for examinations or those engaged in leisure activities.

The gender gap is particularly pronounced. Nearly three-fourths of all districts surveyed recorded a NEET rate of more than 25% among young women, underscoring the role of unpaid domestic responsibilities and societal expectations in keeping women outside both education and employment.

(With TOI inputs)

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