India's Youth Education Scenario - Need for Inclusion of Life Skills

India being the youngest nation of the world, this demographic dividend has raised high expectations in regard to the youth's meaningful participation in socio-political process; particularly civic engagement. The demographic dividend of youth with diverse needs and almost total absence of educational and skill development opportunities for them makes the youth education a most significant challenge at the present time. Youth is overburdened by a education system which is not much meaningful for them. The present education system does not align with the holistic approach towards understanding young people's lives. As the young people step into the threshold of the external world, they are increasingly influenced by their peers and by adults other than their parents. They begin to explore and experiment intellectually, ingeniously and socially through various activities. To support them in this sensitive and tender stage, they need to develop life skills – skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making and communication. This would help them develop self-esteem, self-confidence, assertiveness, ability to work in teams and resolve conflicts in a rational manner. Life skills programme should be an integral part of the education system in order to transmit the accumulated resources of our cultural heritage to each new generation.Youth has all the potential. Let us all provide rational education support to them so that they keep on growing in their knowledge and understanding and keep making a difference to the nation and to the world. Then they should be fully empowered to lead India into the future