Economic theory suggests that when the proportion of young people in a region increases, a significant boost to economic growth should materialise. The post-World War II years saw the West in general and the US in particular benefit from this dynamic as the baby boomers delivered record productivity.

However, even as India's demographic profile today is similar to that of the US in 1960, contrary to popular belief, a demographic dividend is unlikely to accrue to India anytime soon. India's rapid economic progress over the past two decades masks its abysmal performance on social ...