Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge blasted the Modi administration for “ravaging” the education‑to‑employment pipeline, highlighting that 67% of unemployed Indians aged 20‑29 are graduates. He also warned that essential food items are becoming unaffordable for the average citizen.

  • According to NITI Aayog, 87 million Indians aged 15‑29 are neither studying, working nor training.
  • Graduates constitute 67% of the unemployed in the 20‑29 age group, with youth female unemployment at 19.5%.
  • Sharp price hikes in sugar, onions, milk, and oil are straining household budgets.

On Monday, August 24, 2026, the Indian National Congress targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over rising unemployment and escalating food prices. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge declared on X that the administration has “completely ravaged” the pathway from education to employment for young India.

Kharge cited a recent NITI Aayog report estimating that 87 million youth aged 15‑29 are not engaged in study, work, or training. The Periodic Labour Force Survey for July 2026 shows overall youth unemployment at 15.6%, spiking to 19.5% among young women.

Read Also:Intimate Letters from Aide Natalie Harp Reveal Deep Devotion to Donald Trump

“Where are the jobs after graduation?” he asked, pointing out that graduates account for 67% of the unemployed Indians aged 20‑29. He also questioned the government’s pledge to create two crore jobs annually, noting that the math implies 24 crore jobs should have been generated over the past 12 years.

Kharge highlighted vacant government posts, the shift toward contractual and part‑time work, and a widening skills gap. “Expensive and inadequate education, paper leaks, delayed recruitment, a widening skills gap, and disappearing quality jobs have put the future of an entire generation at risk,” he warned.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh added that onion prices in Nashik surged by about 76% in a month, with wholesale rates doubling in several states. He noted similar spikes in sugar, milk, oil, and fruits, accusing the government of empty buffer stocks and burdening the poor and middle class.

The NITI Aayog report “Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047,” based on the 78th round of the National Sample Survey (2021), calls for subsidised training programmes to promote self‑employment and align skills with emerging sector demand.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the convergence of rising commodity prices and stagnant youth employment could erode middle‑class purchasing power, potentially slowing India’s GDP growth trajectory and influencing upcoming electoral outcomes.

“If the government does not invest seriously in skill development, the economic future of the youth will dim dramatically.” – Labour policy expert Dr. Anita Singh
Did You Know?: Since the early 1990s, the unemployment rate among Indian graduates has risen by an average of 12% per decade.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Has the government launched any new employment‑creation scheme? No comprehensive national scheme has been announced yet, though several state‑level skilling initiatives are underway.
  • Which essential commodities have seen the steepest price jumps? Sugar, onions, milk, and cooking oil are identified as the most sharply rising items.