Lok Sabha Question No. 343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Changes in New Youth Policy-2014
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS)

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 343 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

Changes in New Youth Policy- 2014

343.   SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR :

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- the details of differences between the National Youth Policy-2014
- (a) and its previous counterpart;
- (b) the mechanism set up to monitor and evaluate the progress of the same; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  set  up  any  monitoring  body consisting  of  Members  of  Parliament,  eminent  personalities  or retired judges to monitor and give recommendations in this regard, if so , the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## ANSWER YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) to  (c)The  National  Youth  Policy,  2014  (NYP-2014)  was  developed after an elaborate process of consultations with all stakeholders. Major  points  of  difference  between  NYP-2014  and  its  previous counterpart,  namely,  National  Youth  Policy,  2003  (NYP-2003)  and the mechanism recommended for monitoring and evaluation of the Policy (which itself is a point of difference) are as follows:
1. The  NYP-2014  identifies  5  precise  Objectives  and  11  specific Priority Areas requiring action for achieving those objectives. The distinguishing  feature  of  NYP-2014  (vis-à-vis  NYP-2003)  is  that under NYP-2014, specific actionable policy interventions have been suggested in each of the 11 priority areas. NYP-2003 identified 7 sectors of youth concern and covered them in very general terms.
2. In  NYP-2014,  certain  new  priority  areas  have  been  brought  into focus,  which  were  not  adequately  addressed  in  NYP-2003.  For instance,  'participation  of  youth  in  politics  and  governance'  and 'youth  engagement'  have  been  identified  as  new  priority  areas. Similarly, NYP-2014 lays much greater emphasis on skill development,  employment  and  entrepreneurship  consistent  with the needs to effectively utilise the youth as productive force.
3. The youth age-group in the NYP-2003 was 13-35 years whereas it has  been  revised  to  15-29  years  in  NYP-2014  to  provide  more focused approach to youth development and empowerment.
4. The  NYP-2014  lays  a lot of emphasis  on  'Monitoring and Evaluation'  aspect,  to  ensure  that  the  Policy  gets  effectively implemented. The Policy suggests specific Leading (short-term) and  Lagging  (long-term)  Performance  Indicators  for  measuring success of the Policy. The Policy Document also prescribes that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports shall publish a 'Status of the Youth Report' every 2 years.  There is a provision for Review of the Policy after 5 years.  The Policy also recommends that the 'Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  and  Sports  should set  up  a  Youth Advisory  Council  of  exceptional  yet  representative  individuals and that council can provide more detailed inputs to government on  key  policy  issues,  run  programmes  to  mobilise  youth  and engage  more  regularly  with  diverse  segments  of  the  youth.' Accordingly, a proposal to constitute a National Youth Advisory Council under the chairmanship of Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports is under consideration. It is proposed that the Council will have representation from official as well as non-official stakeholders  and  its  terms  of reference  will include  (i) to deliberate upon and review the programmes/ initiatives of various Ministries/  Departments  for  development  and  empowerment  of youth and advise the Ministries/ Departments for more effective implementation  of  such  programmes/  initiatives,  (ii)  to  monitor the implementation of the Action Plan for implementation of the National Youth Policy and (iii) to advise the Ministries/ Departments on innovative schemes/ programmes/ initiatives that could  be  taken  up  for  development  and  empowerment  of  the youth.

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