Youth can become a burden without jobs, skills: Bhagwat

What happened: Mohan Bhagwat linked youth, jobs, and an India-specific development strategy

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said India’s youth can become a demographic dividend—a benefit from a larger working-age population—if youth are properly equipped, employed, and guided. Bhagwat also warned that youth can become a burden on society if support for youth employment and skills is inadequate. Bhagwat made these remarks at an Independence Day event organised by the Lokmat Media Group in Nagpur.

Bhagwat connected youth development to India’s national ambitions such as becoming “Vishwaguru” (a global teacher and guide). Bhagwat argued that nurturing youth well can help India achieve national ambitions, while weak support can leave youth without productive roles.

Bhagwat argued for an India-specific development strategy rather than copying development benchmarks from other countries. Bhagwat cited India’s large population, limited geographical space, and distinct resource base to justify a “distinct development strategy”. Bhagwat named the United States, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada as countries India should not benchmark progress against as a direct template.

Background and earlier position: youth engagement, student protests, and democratic dialogue

Bhagwat’s remarks were placed in continuity with Bhagwat’s earlier public stance defending student protests against the NEET paper leak and stating that protesting was not anti-national.