Examine the trends in unemployment rates across various religious groups in the light of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data by Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has placed the data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) related to unemployment rates across various religious groups.

Trends across Religious Groups

The 2017-18 PLFS had pegged the unemployment rates at 5.8% for rural male, 3.8% for rural female, 7.1% for urban male, and 10.8% for urban female. There was an urban-rural and gender divides in unemployment rates among religious groups.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has various schemes aimed at educational empowerment, employment-oriented skill development such as “Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centre”, “Usttad”, “Nai Manzil”, “Nai Roshni”, “Seekho aur Kamao”, “Padho Pardes”, “Progress Panchayat”, “Hunar Haat”, multi-purpose “Sadbhav Mandap”, “PM’s new 15 point programme”, “Multi-sectoral Development Programme”, “Begum Hazrat Mahal Scholarship” for girls etc to reduce the rates of unemployment.

Topics: GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors • GS-III: Issues Related to Unemployment