Context: Recently, Lokniti-CSDS in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung released a report base on the survey titled ‘Indian Youth: Aspirations and Vision for the Future’.

Key highlights of report

In terms of Occupation Status

• In the last one and half decade, occupation status has changed significantly and nearly 39% identify themselves as student.
• More young men (39%) compared to women (11%) were working.
• Close to four in five youth from the youngest group were studying and only 4% were earning.

In terms of Employment

• 10 per cent decline in preference for government jobs as compared to 2016, with 55 per cent choosing government jobs over others.
• Nearly a quarter (24%) would prefer to start their own business.

In terms of Marriage

• The proportion of married youth has decreased by five percentage points since 2016.
• Youth showed a greater acceptance for the idea of inter-caste marriage (61% supported) than for inter-religious marriage.
• Inter-faith marriage is still not widely accepted, with 45% of the youth favouring it and 42% opposing it.

In terms of Mental health

• Family’s financial security worried the youth the most, followed by their own health.
• About six in ten (56%) worried about their jobs, and more than half (54%) about their physical appearance.
• Those with high exposure to social media were found to be more emotionally distressed than those with low or no exposure.