Congress targets Modi government on price rise, 'ravaging’ the pathway from education to employment
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government over rising unemployment and inflation, citing NITI Aayog data on youth joblessness. He argued that the government has failed to deliver on its job creation promises and has compromised the quality of education.
Why it matters
The debate over unemployment and economic policy is a central theme in Indian political discourse, directly impacting the government's approval ratings.
The Congress on Monday (August 24, 2026) targeted the Narendra Modi government over unemployment and price rise, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge accusing the government of “completely ravaging” young India’s entire pathway from education to employment.
Mr. Kharge cited a recent NITI Aayog report estimating that 8.7 crore Indians aged 15 to 29 years are neither studying, working or receiving training. Youth unemployment stood at 15.6%, rising to 19.5% among young women, he said, citing the Periodic Labour Force Survey for July 2026.
“Where are the jobs after graduation?” Mr. Kharge asked in a post on social media platform X, pointing out that graduates account for 67% of unemployed Indians aged 20 to 29 years. He also questioned the promise of creating two crore jobs every year, saying that, by that calculation, 24 crore jobs should have been created in 12 years.
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