Abstract

The phenomenon of youth unemployment in India has emerged as one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges in recent decades. Despite a demographic dividend that positions the country as one of the youngest nations globally India struggles to convert this advantage into productive employment. The resulting mismatch between educational expansion economic expectations and labour market realities has led to an unprecedented level of discontent among the youth. This paper explores the structural and systemic causes of youth unemployment including educational inadequacies economic stagnation policy inefficiencies and socio-cultural constraints. It further investigates the consequences of youth joblessness ranging from psychological stress and social alienation to political radicalization and economic underperformance. By drawing from policy reports statistical data and sociological theories the study provides a nuanced understanding of how youth discontent is both a symptom and a cause