By Lalita Pradeep (Senior Education Administrator & Educational Technology Pioneer)
Seventy-nine years of Indian independence present a compelling narrative of progress. Today, we have skyrocketed to being the world’s fifth-largest economy, with GDP leap-frogging from 20 billion USD in 1947 to over 3.7 trillion USD this year. This surge has been augmented by unprecedented social development across the board, hoisting nearly 18% of the human population towards holistic betterment. ‘Viksit Bharat’ is no more a distant dream, as it stands tangibly today, poised to be realised. This unparalleled transformation is fueled by a powerful and dynamic force: the women and youth of India. Their energy, innovation, and aspirations are no mere chapter within the story of India’s growth; they are the very catalysts that will propel the nation towards true, inclusive development.
Unfurling a radiant future
The nearly 8 decades since Independence have witnessed a booming industrial revolution, shifting the country’s focus from bare necessities and establishing foundational services and industries, to skill development targeted towards ever-emerging global sectors like AI. This transformation is the result of targeted initiatives implemented over decades to unlock the potential of women and youth. For instance, the National Service Scheme, launched in 1969, has grown from 37 universities to a formidable network spanning several thousand institutions. Since inception, over 7.4 crore students have benefited from the initiative, engaging in community service from disaster relief to literacy drives. Similarly, the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, established in 1972, has become one of the world’s largest grassroots youth organisations, with a presence in 623 districts. This institution has successfully mobilised over 4 lakh volunteers for community development projects and trained nearly 2000 in disaster risk reduction, demonstrating their direct impact on both social and civic life. These initiatives have successfully fostered a sense of social responsibility and leadership among India’s youth, transforming them into active agents of change.
Parallelly, the ‘Skill India Mission’ is bridging the gap between education and employment. With an ambitious target to train millions of youth, the mission has successfully upskilled a large number of young people, with a notable 72% of beneficiaries being women in some programs. This focus on vocational training is creating a workforce equipped for the demands of the modern economy.
Furthermore, schemes like the ‘Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana’ and ‘Startup India’ have unleashed an entrepreneurial revolution. The MUDRA scheme has been a game-changer for women, with almost 70% of loans sanctioned to women entrepreneurs, empowering them to start or expand their businesses without the need for collateral. Similarly, ‘Startup India’ has fostered a vibrant ecosystem, with over 73,000 recognized startups having at least one woman director, demonstrating that women and youth are not just seeking jobs, but are actively becoming job creators, driving economic growth and innovation across the nation.
New generation, new technologies, newer ambitions
Achieving ‘Viksit Bharat’ necessitates more than just policy; it requires a strategic focus on leveraging current technology to overcome persistent development gaps. While government schemes have been effective, true progress lies in empowering women and youth as digital-first problem solvers. This acceleration will come from their ability to harness emerging tools like AI to address critical, on-ground challenges, thereby moving beyond traditional top-down solutions.
The impact of this approach is already visible. For instance, in regions with limited healthcare access, young entrepreneurs are developing AI-driven telemedicine platforms that use mobile phones for remote diagnostics, reducing the burden on physical infrastructure. In agriculture, youth-led startups are creating local-language AI chatbots that provide hyper-local weather forecasts and crop management advice, directly boosting farm productivity without needing extensive on-site resources.
This model is being formally supported by initiatives like ‘YUVAi,’ which is training students in AI skills with a mandate to create solutions for human needs. This is not about a futuristic vision; it’s about practical, scalable applications. For example, a young woman in a small town or village could now potentially use AI tools to analyse local market trends and optimise her family’s farm inventory. A group of students could build an app to track and manage waste collection in their own locality. These are tangible, impactful changes driven by digitally-literate youth. By shifting from being passive beneficiaries to active innovators, women and youth are demonstrating that their aspirations, channeled through technology, are the are the true drivers of Viksit Bharat.
Enabling Indian women and youth = empowering India for posterity
The journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ is a testament to India’s enduring spirit of progress. As we look ahead, the path is illuminated by the collective energies and aspirations of billions. Their talent and entrepreneurial drive, amplified by digital technology, are not merely contributing to India’s growth but are fundamentally propelling it. This demographic dividend, armed with innovation and a passion for change, is transforming challenges into opportunities and dreams into reality. By investing in their potential and fostering an environment where they can thrive, India is ensuring a future that is not just developed, but truly inclusive and dignified for all.
Lalita Pradeep is a distinguished senior education administrator, with over 30 years of service in the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s Department of Education. She served as Director in Basic Education, having progressed through key positions, including Additional Director of Basic Education and Director of the State Institute of Educational Technology. She also served as OSD to the Chief Secretary.
Her most significant achievement is developing a Teacher Training Management System (TMS) that was adopted nationwide. During the pandemic, she led innovative programs reaching 75,000 teachers through digital platforms, demonstrating exceptional crisis leadership and technological integration capabilities.
Lalita’s commitment to inclusive education is evidenced by her State Award for disability inclusion work, while her educational technology leadership brought her the Asia Pacific Leadership Award. She has successfully bridged traditional educational administration with modern technological solutions, creating scalable impacts across India’s education system.
Currently, Lalita serves as Independent Director for Aligarh Smart City Limited and also provides strategic consultancy to the Gurukulam Vertical of PhysicsWallah Corporate Ltd. She has also completed her Graduation in Law, to enhance her policy and regulatory expertise.
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