False claim of 45.4% Youth unemployment in India goes viral
A post is being shared on the social media platform X by the username @Kaushik Basu who is spreading misinformation, claiming,” Latest data from India’s CMIE shows India’s youth unemployment rate has reached the alarming level of 45.4%—among the highest in the world. This is doing deep damage. For the sake of the country we must not hide behind slogans, must put politics aside & take corrective measures.”
Fact Check
DFRAC’s team fact-checked the claim made by the social media user Kaushik Basu and on investigating it was revealed that the claim made is misleading. The CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy) data shows India’s overall unemployment rate declined to 7.6% in March 2024, not a 45.4% youth unemployment rate. The unemployment rate eased in urban India as well as in rural India.
Data from the government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) states that Unemployment Rate (UR) in urban areas decreased to 6.7% during January-March 2024 for those aged 15 years and above.
On investigating we found media reports by The Economic Times, Business Standard, and others also report the recent urban unemployment rate of around 6.7% based on NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) data.
Statistics by The International Monetary Fund indicate that South Africa currently has the highest unemployment rate globally at around 33%, with youth unemployment even higher at 46%.
Even media reports by BBC News and Bloomberg state that the unemployment rate in South Africa is 33% which invalidates the claim by the X user that India has the highest unemployment rate.
No data has been provided to support the assertion that India’s youth unemployment rate is 45.4% or that it ranks among the highest globally.
Conclusion
Based on the factual data provided by multiple sources including CMIE, government data, and media reports, the claim that India’s youth unemployment rate is 45.4% and among the highest globally appears to be false. The cited data shows much lower overall and urban unemployment rates for India recently while indicating other nations like South Africa have higher unemployment levels currently. Therefore, this claim seems to be inaccurate and contradicted by the evidence presented.
DFRAC Analysis: Misleading
