Demographic Dividend-Its Implications to India

Abstract

Every fast growing Asian economy in recent years has accelerated as it underwent a demographic transition. All societies at one time or another move from a near equilibrium condition of high mortality and high fertility towards a presumed low fertility and low mortality equilibrium termed as ‘demographic transition’. The census data of 2011 shows that India’s youth bulge is now sharpest at the key 15-24 age group, even as its youngest and oldest age groups begin to narrow. The data shows that India’s working age population is now 63.4% of the total population. But demographic advantage does not mean more people but more prosperous and productive people. In order to reap the benefits of demographic dividend there is need to increase productivity of work force. Hence, the workforce needs to be educated, equipped with required skills and healthy. The dreams of huge income flow and resultant economic growth due to demographic dividend could be realised only when we inculcate the required skills in the work force to make it as competent as its counterparts in the developed world