"A demographic dividend can quickly become a demographic liability." Discuss with reference to youth unemployment in India's border regions such as J&K.

India has one of the world's youngest populations. That only becomes a demographic dividend if young people find productive work. In border regions this can turn into a liability quickly. In J&K, the PLFS (2020–21) put unemployment among 15–29-year-olds at 18.3% [1].

How the dividend can be realised

• Connectivity-led growth: The Chenab Bridge and the Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat cut journey time by 2–3 hours. They were part of projects worth over ₹46,000 crore, which are expected to boost tourism and business [2].
• Industrial base: A ₹28,400 crore Central Sector Scheme for the industrial development of J&K was notified in 2021 [1].
• Entrepreneurship: Mission Youth schemes such as Mumkin and Tejaswani, which fund small business units and livelihood projects, helped create or strengthen about 7.4 lakh self-employment opportunities since 2021–22 [1].

Why it can turn into a liability quickly in border regions

• Degrees without jobs: Higher education is spreading faster than formal private-sector jobs. Graduates end up queuing for scarce government posts.
• Aspiration–reality gap: Smartphones show young people opportunities they cannot reach. This breeds frustration and alienation.
• Security risk: Idle, disaffected youth in a conflict zone are more exposed to radicalisation, drug abuse and recruitment by militant groups. Unrest then scares off investors, and the cycle repeats.
• Narrow economy: A seasonal economy built on tourism and horticulture, remote location and a conflict-hit image keep the private sector small.
• Brain drain: Skilled youth move out, so the region loses the very workers who would make up its dividend.

Youth bulge → skills + jobs  → growth → stability     (dividend)
            ↘ no jobs → frustration → unrest → no investment (liability)

Fig: The two paths for a youth bulge

Way forward

• Link skilling to local sectors: hospitality, food processing and handicrafts.
• Use the new rail line for freight, not just passengers, so Kashmiri produce reaches markets more cheaply.
• Expand startup finance and remote digital work to offset the region's distance from markets.

The outcome depends less on population numbers than on whether jobs can keep pace with young people's aspirations. With the new rail links and industrial incentives now in place, J&K's priority should be to turn them into local employment. That would honour the right to work under Article 41 and advance SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth).