Educational Attainment and Career

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Executive Summary

1. Introduction

Youth: definition and demographic changes Why study youth? About the survey Structure of the report

6

9

11

17

19 20 21 21

2. Social Ties: Kinship, Friendship, and Society 23

Introduction 25 Living arrangements of the youth 25 Ties with the family 27 Ties with friends 30 Friendship choices of the youth 33 Between family, friends and career 35 Spatial Affinity: Local, state and nation 37 Conclusion 39

3. Religious Practices and Attitudes of Youth

Introduction Religious practices Youth attitudes on censorship of comedy on religion Religious harmony Conclusion

41

43 43

55 57 60

4. Marriage: Attitudes, Preferences, and

Practices 63

Introduction 65 Trends in marital status of Indian youth 65 Marriage preferences: Love or arranged? 67 Perception of youth on marriage practices in India 72 Conclusion 79

5. Educational Attainment and Career

Choices of Indian Youth 81

Introduction 83 Educational profile of Indian youth 83 Fields/streams of study Indian youth opted for 86 Reason for choosing the current field of study 89 Current occupation status 91 Employment profile of the Indian youth 96 Career aspirations 99 Conclusion 104

6. Youth and Mental Health 107

Introduction 109 What worries the young Indians? 109 Emotional distress and its contributing factors among young Indians 115 Suicidal thoughts among youth 119 Seeking medical help for mental health issues 121 Conclusion 123

7. Livelihood Opportunities: The

Concerns and Challenges 125

Introduction 127 Biggest problem for the Indian youth 127 Perception of employment opportunities 129 The present job 134 Role of the government 138 Employment opportunities in India: Major challenges 143 Conclusion 151

Appendix I: Technical Details of Study

Design and Sample 153

Appendix II: Interview Schedule 159