India’s youth is NEET — not in education, employment, or training. That’s the real faultline

Recent political developments in India have highlighted the growing political relevance of Gen Z, or the youth generation, which is identified as not being in education, employment, or training (NEET). This demographic has become a focal point for both the ruling regime and opposition political leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of Gen Z during his address at IIT-Delhi's convocation ceremony, emphasizing the need for online coaching and training in AI skills.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, Mohan Bhagwat, spoke to thousands of Gen Z and Gen Alpha attendees at a conference in Mumbai, adopting a more relatable and engaging approach by using the Gen Z hand gesture "clock it".

On the other hand, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi pointed out that Gen Z has faced a triple whammy - pain, data, and wealth. He argued that India's demographic dividend is being adversely affected by economic policies favoring a select few and that the digital economy is being exploited by a few platform companies. However, critics argue that Gandhi may be focusing too much on demographic concerns rather than addressing the fundamental issues faced by Gen Z.

The emergence of precarious work, with its gig-based, contract, part-time, and piece-based arrangements, has led to increased job insecurity and instability for a large number of India's educated youth. This has resulted in a growing sense of fear and anxiety among the middle class, as their children increasingly fall into the ranks of the precariat - a workforce characterized by flexible labor, zero contracts, and casualization.