Youth employment remains the Achilles' heel in the Indian labour market

Conditions improving, but high unemployment rate in 15-29 age group a challenge for policymakers

It was a year when jobs remained a dominant theme – from private-sector layoffs to government policies that would impact the job market.

Come June and protests erupted across the country against the government’s Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces. Roads were blocked and trains were held up as the country’s youth descended on streets and rail tracks.

And in November, the Supreme Court upheld 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and education institutions for economically weaker sections – and said there was no illegality in breaching the 50 per cent quote.

The unemployment crisis earned some