Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

India’s youth cohort and its constitutionally protected marginalized groups (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, religious minorities, persons with disabilities and women) are central to the country’s inclusive development agenda. This paper critically examines national and Karnataka-specific policies, institutions and outcomes relating to youth empowerment with a focus on skilling, labour-market entry, social protection and political inclusion. Using a mixed-methods secondary-data approach (policy/document review, recent state-level developments including the Karnataka caste survey, and national labour statistics), the study identifies structural bottlenecks—educational–labour market mismatch, implementation gaps, and political economy constraints—and proposes evidence-informed reforms for Karnataka. The paper concludes that the state’s new skill development policy and institutional footprint provide an important opportunity for inclusive transformation, but success depends on demand-led skilling, transparent use of caste-survey data for equitable targeting, strengthened local delivery systems and rigorous monitoring and evaluation.