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The Kind of Jobs Needed for the ‘Viksit Bharat’ Goal

04-02-2025

06:00 AM

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1 min read
The Kind of Jobs Needed for the ‘Viksit Bharat’ Goal Blog Image

Context

  • The Union Budget plays a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of India's economy, particularly in job creation.
  • While short-term measures such as tax relief can stimulate consumer demand, long-term structural reforms are necessary to ensure sustained employment growth and real wage increases.
  • The 2024 Budget introduced Employment Linked Incentives (ELI) under the Prime Minister’s five-scheme initiative, aiming to generate over four crore jobs in five years.
  • However, to realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat, it is imperative to deliberate on the kind of jobs that need to be created.

Essential Categories of Employment That India Must Focus On

  • Climate-Resilient Jobs
    • Climate change is an urgent and escalating concern.
    • In 2019, India ranked as the seventh most-affected country by climate change, suffering a $159 billion income loss in 2021.
    • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) estimates that adaptation costs will reach nearly $1 trillion by 2030.
    • The impact of climate change on agriculture, labour productivity, and livelihoods necessitates massive investments in rural and urban adaptation strategies.
  • AI-Resilient Jobs
    • The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses a significant challenge to employment, particularly in the IT and business services sectors, which currently account for over 70% of India’s service exports.
    • According to McKinsey Global Institute, 50% of automation adoption in India could take place within the next decade.
    • Technologies such as metaGPT, AI-powered coding, and chatbot-driven customer service are already replacing human jobs, raising concerns about employment sustainability.
  • Aspiration-Centric Jobs
    • India’s youth, particularly in rural areas, face a paradox.
    • While exposure to digital media and startup culture has broadened their aspirations, their foundational education, particularly in English and technical skills, remains weak.
    • Many still rely on government jobs and coaching institutes to secure employment, reflecting a deeper insecurity rooted in their socio-economic backgrounds.

Necessary Measures for India to Focus on Essential Categories of Employment

  • A Response to Environmental and Economic Challenges
    • To address climate related challenges, job creation must align with sustainability goals.
    • The government can introduce large-scale programs that create employment while promoting environmental resilience.
    • For example, state-subsidised e-rickshaws could be provided in six lakh villages, generating two million jobs, particularly for women, while improving last-mile mobility.
    • Similarly, investments in compressed biogas plants can bridge the gap between the current 82 plants and the ambitious target of 5,000 set in 2018.
    • Additionally, accelerating the 500GW non-fossil energy capacity target can generate over one million jobs, particularly in decentralized and rooftop solar, which is seven times more labour-intensive than conventional energy projects.
    • These initiatives not only enhance employment but also contribute to India's net-zero goals for 2070.
  • Safeguarding Employment in the Age of Automation
    • To counteract the effects of AI, India must focus on AI-resilient jobs that prioritise human creativity and physical engagement.
    • One avenue is expanding investment in education and healthcare, addressing the shortage of teachers and healthcare professionals across states.
    • Similarly, enhancing support for the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) can empower rural artisans, farmers, and craftsperson by connecting them with global and urban markets.
    • These initiatives not only create sustainable employment but also safeguard traditional industries from AI-driven disruptions.
  • Meeting the Needs of India’s Ambitious Youth
    • Job creation must align with youth aspirations.
    • One effective strategy is rapid infrastructure development, such as constructing 70,000 integrated pack-houses to address the existing 95% infrastructure gap in agricultural supply chains, generating over two million jobs.
    • Additionally, boosting local manufacturing of agri-inputs and promoting high-value exports can create sustainable off-farm employment opportunities.
    • Rebranding rural industries and leveraging digital platforms can also make these jobs more attractive.
    • For example, accelerating the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds could reduce India’s 57% import dependence on edible oils while revitalizing rural oilseed processing.
    • This initiative, coupled with greater use of technology and social media for marketing, can turn traditional rural jobs into aspirational career paths.
    • Moreover, fostering public-private partnerships in large-scale industries can provide a structured employment ecosystem, addressing the frustrations of youth facing examination leaks and low recruitment vacancies.

Conclusion

  • While tax relief and short-term policies can provide temporary economic boosts, India needs long-term structural reforms to sustain employment and wage growth.
  • The government must focus on climate-resilient jobs that support sustainability, AI-resilient jobs that protect human creativity, and aspiration-centric jobs that align with youth ambitions.
  • By strategically investing in these areas, India can not only mitigate the risks of climate change and automation but also unlock the full potential of its workforce, paving the way for a truly developed Viksit Bharat.

Q1. What is the primary goal of Employment Linked Incentives (ELI) introduced in the 2024 Budget?
Ans. To create over four crore jobs in five years with a central outlay of ₹2 lakh crore.

Q2. How can climate-resilient jobs contribute to employment generation?
Ans. They create sustainable jobs, such as providing e-rickshaws for last-mile mobility and investing in renewable energy projects.

Q3. Why is AI resilience important for India’s job market?
Ans. Automation threatens many jobs, so AI-resilient jobs focus on human creativity and physical engagement, such as in education and healthcare.

Q4. How can rural youth benefit from aspiration-centric job creation?
Ans. Infrastructure development, digital marketing, and local manufacturing can provide off-farm employment aligned with their ambitions.


Q5. What is a long-term solution for sustainable job creation in India?
Ans. Investing in climate-resilient, AI-resilient, and aspiration-centric jobs to ensure steady employment and wage growth. 

Source:The Hindu