Regional variation, adolescents and youth

Growth differs from region to region. In 1991-2001, the southern states grew slowly (Kerala the slowest, 9.4 per cent), while a belt of northern states grew 20-25 per cent.

In 2001-2011, almost every state grew more slowly than in the decade before.

Adolescents (aged 10 to 19) made up about 20.9 per cent of the population in 2011. They are the future, but they face serious challenges: early marriage, illiteracy, dropping out of school, poor nutrition, and drug abuse.

The government has made policies to guide young people's energy and talent:

• the National Youth Policy 2014, which defines youth as people aged 15 to 29;
• the National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2015), to give them skills for work.

Young people need direction, and these policies aim to provide it.