India's Youth Unemployment Becomes Modi's Biggest Political Challenge

India has the largest youth population of any country in the world, a demographic advantage its leaders have long promoted as a driver of economic growth. But a growing number of young graduates say they cannot find jobs that match their qualifications, despite years spent in higher education.

Analysts say the gap between the number of graduates entering the workforce each year and the pace of quality job creation has widened, leaving many educated young people underemployed or unemployed. The frustration has become increasingly visible in public discourse and is being read as a warning sign for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Economists argue that addressing the mismatch will require sustained investment in manufacturing, skills training and sectors capable of absorbing large numbers of new workers each year. How the government responds is expected to shape the political mood well beyond this election cycle.