1st Edition
Indian Youth in the Midst of Crisis and Challenges
Over one-third of the Indian population is made up of young people aged between 15 and 34 years. Such a large, young population is an asset to any nation, but today, young Indians are grappling with multifarious challenges hindering their growth. This book analyses factors that influence the youth’s decision-making processes, their navigation of societal norms, education choices, identity formation, and the evolving perceptions of tradition and modernity. It focuses on the changing patterns of marriage among the Indian youth, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing changes in youth transitions and social reproduction in a modern society. The findings presented in the book provide crucial insights into how young Indians perceive their roles within their families, communities, and the broader society. The volume also offers valuable guidance on how to support and empower the next generation to build a resilient and prosperous future.
Lucid, accessible, and empirically grounded, the book is indicative of the momentum and direction of change in the country. It will be useful to scholars and researchers of sociology, political sociology, political studies, youth psychology and anthropology. It will also be of interest to policymakers, journalists, and the interested general reader.
List of Tables vi
List of Contributors x
Preface and Acknowledgements xii
1 Introduction 1
SANJAY KUMAR
2 Social Ties: Kinship, Friendship, and Society 10
SANJAY KUMAR
3 Religious Practices and Attitudes of Youth 28
RIYA CHOUDHARY AND ADITYA F. SEN
4 Marriage: Attitudes, Preferences, and Practices 52
VIBHA ATTRI AND JYOTI MISHRA
5 Education Attainment and Career Choices of Indian Youth 69
JYOTI MISHRA
6 Indian Youth and Mental Wellness 100
VIBHA ATTRI
7 Livelihood Opportunities: Identifying Major Concerns and Challenges for the Indian Youth 125
MANJESH RANA
Appendix I: Technical Details of Study Design and Sample 151
Index 156
Biography
Sanjay Kumar is currently Professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi, India. He served as the Director of CSDS from January 2014 till January 2020. His main area of research is Indian elections, voting behaviour, but using quantitative method. He has also been engaged in conducting research on other themes such as the Indian youth and the state of democracy in South Asia. He writes regularly for both English and Hindi newspapers, such as Asian Age, Deccan Chronicles, The Mint, The Hindu, Indian Express, Dainik Bhaskar, and Rajasthan Patrika. He is also a familiar face on Indian television as a well-known psephologist and election analyst.
