Rahul Gandhi : Youth, Data and Jobs at the Centre of India’s 21st-Century Economy
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that India’s young population and the data generated by young people will be among the most important drivers of the country’s economy in the 21st century. He was addressing thousands of students and youths of UP and Poorvanchal in Chhatron Ki Goonj programme in Prayagraj.
Addressing students and young people at Prayagraj , Rahul Gandhi said, “Today, I have come to talk to you about pain, data, and wealth.” He said India has around 400 million young people, describing them as the country’s strength. According to him, India’s progress in the 21st century will depend primarily on two factors—the strength of its youth and the data of its youth. He summed this up as: “Youth + Data = The economy of the 21st century.”
Rahul Gandhi stressed the importance of data in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), saying that without young people’s data, AI has no meaning. He argued that AI can be created from data, but data cannot be created from AI.
He further said that while India has the potential and data of its youth, the existing system has trapped young people in a “chakravyuh.” He said families spend millions and crores of rupees on education, after which students receive certificates but often fail to secure employment. Rahul Gandhi claimed that only 12 out of every 1,000 people get a permanent job.
He also alleged that people’s data is being taken and handed over to large companies, while young people are encouraged to create reels and online content. Calling reels “the new addiction of the 21st century,” Rahul Gandhi said young people are effectively being told to work for platforms such as Blinkit and Uber, perform labour and make reels, while being denied adequate employment opportunities in the country.
Rahul Gandhi Raises Concerns Over Education System
Rahul Gandhi also criticised the country’s education system, saying it has “completely collapsed.” He alleged that schools lack adequate resources, while professors in colleges and universities have lost interest in teaching. He also raised concerns about the evaluation system in examinations, saying that students ultimately bear the consequences of these shortcomings.
Through the #ChhatronKiGoonj programme, Rahul Gandhi said he is attempting to amplify the voices and concerns of students across the country.
Prayagraj’s Educational Legacy
Speaking about his connection with Prayagraj, Rahul Gandhi said, “My family’s home was in Prayagraj. I feel very happy coming here.” He recalled the city’s history as a centre of knowledge and said Allahabad University was once among the best universities in the country.
He said that after hearing the same promises from the Narendra Modi government year after year, young people have become increasingly frustrated and that their trust and illusions have been shattered. Rahul Gandhi said that, a decade later, millions of students are asking the same question: “Where are the jobs?”
Student Raises Paper Leak Issue in Uttar Pradesh
During the programme, a student from Uttar Pradesh shared his experience as an aspiring student and thanked Rahul Gandhi for raising the concerns of students and young people. The student said that the youth of the country were with Rahul Gandhi.
The student alleged that since Yogi Adityanath became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, there have been repeated paper leaks in recruitment examinations. He cited the following cases:
- 2017: Daroga Recruitment Exam — paper leak
- 2018: UP Constable Recruitment Exam — paper leak
- 2020–21: UP SI Recruitment Exam — paper leak
- 2022: Lekhpal Recruitment Exam — paper leak
- 2023: RO/ARO Recruitment Exam — paper leak
- 2023: UP Constable Recruitment Exam — paper leak
The student said these repeated incidents have created uncertainty and frustration among young people preparing for government recruitment examinations. many students form Allahabad University and Patna University shared thier experiences of police brutality during students protests in UP and Bihar.