A worrying civic trend is emerging in India: public discourse increasingly foregrounds religious and sectarian loyalties, while explicit expressions of attachment to the nation — such as saying “I love India” — are becoming noticeably muted. This phenomenon reflects deeper structural challenges, driven by short-term political incentives, persistent youth unemployment, gaps in civic education, and weakened institutional trust.
To address this, India needs a coordinated package of immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures that place livelihoods, civic literacy, and accountable governance at the centre of national policy.
Youth Unemployment and the Civic Disconnect
Official labour data and independent studies present a mixed picture of jobs and youth engagement. The government’s Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports that the unemployment rate for youth aged 15–29 stood at about 10.2% for 2023–24. Meanwhile, central government bulletins note a fall in the overall unemployment rate for those aged 15 and above to roughly 3.2% and highlight rising formal payroll additions as signs of job creation — figures the administration presents as evidence of recovery.
However, independent research and international monitors point to continued challenges for young graduates and first-time job seekers, including skills mismatch and under-employment. The India Employment Report 2024 by the Institute for Human Development, supported by the ILO, focuses directly on these issues — youth employment, education, and skill deficits — underscoring the gap between economic data and lived experience.
Reasons Behind Fading Civic Affection
1. Identity-Based Politics
Political parties frequently mobilize identity-based issues for electoral gain. This diverts public attention from long-term policy debates on education, employment, and institutional reform.
2. Economic Frustration
Many young people face uncertain, low-paid, or informal work. This economic frustration becomes a powerful driver of alienation from civic institutions and collective purpose.
3. Weak Civic Education
Schools and colleges often under-emphasize civic duties, critical thinking, and an inclusive reading of modern Indian history. As a result, many citizens lack the tools to translate private faith into public-spirited civic engagement.
The Policy Gap: What’s Done and What’s Missing
Policymakers have introduced several supply-side interventions — including subsidies, skill missions, and employer incentives — along with large employment-linked incentive (ELI) schemes aimed at boosting private hiring. While such initiatives are praiseworthy, incentives must be paired with local skills pipelines and durable demand to ensure long-term impact.
To move forward, a National Civic and Livelihoods Dialogue (bringing together the Centre, states, industry, and youth groups) should be convened. This forum could focus on a concise set of deliverables, such as:
- Apprenticeships and internship vouchers
- Fast-track small public works to absorb idle youth into paid community projects
- A targeted Youth Employment Pack featuring wage subsidies for first-time hires, scaled internship stipends, and conditional grants for MSMEs to convert interns into permanent staff
These measures are already being piloted in some regions and can be scaled nationwide.
Strengthening Civic Education and Skills
Curriculum reform is another critical step. Civic education, critical reasoning, and community service should become mandatory components of secondary education. Schools could award credits for verified community projects that strengthen local public goods.
Regional skill hubs aligned with local industry clusters — such as manufacturing, renewables, and digital services — should be combined with short-term traineeships that help graduates transition into stable jobs. International partners can assist with global standards and certification frameworks.
At the same time, institutional reforms must improve transparency and accountability. This includes performance-based metrics for ministries, public dashboards for flagship schemes, and reforms in political financing to curb short-term electoral incentives.
A voluntary national service pathway could also be introduced, pairing civic work with skill accreditation. This would not be conscription, but a structured option for young people to serve locally while earning transferable qualifications.
The Main Actors
- Central and State Governments: Set measurable targets, reallocate budgets toward skilling and civic programmes, and establish a monitoring framework.
- Industry: Invest in apprenticeships and local training; commit to quantifiable placement targets.
- Education Sector: Implement curricular changes and community-linked assessments.
- Media and Platforms: Commit to fact-checking partnerships and balanced coverage of policy debates.
- Civil Society and Youth Organisations: Run community pilots and hold institutions accountable.
Measuring Success
Progress should be evaluated through clear and verifiable metrics:
- Reduction in youth unemployment and under-employment
- Higher civic knowledge and participation scores among students
- Increased trust in public institutions, measured by credible surveys
- A visible decline in polarised, identity-based discourse overshadowing public policy debate
Conclusion
That citizens readily declare devotion to religious figures but hesitate to express love for the nation is a symptom, not the disease. The underlying issue lies in the disconnect between civic pride and lived reality — between aspiration and opportunity.
Restoring this link means ensuring jobs that sustain families, education that builds civic capacity, and institutions that earn trust. These are policy challenges, not just moral ones — and they require coordinated political will, measurable programmes, and patient implementation.
Without such commitment, the dream of a united, self-confident India will remain unfulfilled.