Report released by Ministry of Health & family welfare provides insights into interventions where investments on adolescents will yield high returns.

Key Highlights 

• India has largest adolescents (aged 10-19) population (253 million) in world.
• Adolescent mortality rate fell by >50%  & adolescent fertility rate declined by 83%(2000-2019)
• Young people completing secondary school has more than doubled from 22% (2005) to >50% (2020).
• 22.7% rise in fatal road accidents for adolescents under 18 has been observed (2021- 2022).
• Suggested Interventions are expected to boost Indian economy by 10.1% of annual GDP. 

Issues faced by Adolescents

• Health: Unplanned pregnancies, malnutrition & mental disorders (depression and anxiety)
• Education and Employment: Stagnant learning,  Unemployment(due to emerging technologies e.g. AI)
• Child marriage: Although girls getting married before 18 has declined by over half (2006-2024), 1 in 3 of world’s child bride live in India.
• Violence and injury: Prevalence of road accidents, self-harm & suicide.

Interventions required

• Schools in underserved areas, improved pedagogy, merit based scholarships for better learning outcomes
• Prevention and treatment of common mental disorders, cyber bullying, interpersonal violence for improved adolescent health.
• Impart life skills and  transfer payments to girls, changes in cultural and social norms to curb child marriage
• Graduated licensed schemes to curb injury to adolescents.