Over 50% of youth in 2 Odisha districts not in jobs, education, training

According to district-level data released by the statistics ministry, over half of the youth aged 15 to 29 in two districts of Odisha were neither employed nor engaged in education or training in 2025. Anugul district had the highest share of 'NEET' youth at 56.1%, while Kendrapara and Dhenkanal followed with 51.4% and 45.3% respectively.

This was the highest 'NEET' rate among districts in India, with the all-India rate being 25%. In comparison, 81% of districts in Bihar had a youth 'NEET' share of more than 25%, which was the highest in the country. The data also revealed that while 251 districts had at least 25% of the youth not in jobs, education, or training, only 18 had a 'NEET' rate of less than 10%.