IMPLEMENTING NEP 2020 GOALS THROUGH CAREER GUIDANCE SYSTEMS: A FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY

Youth unemployment has emerged as a pressing socio-economic challenge in India, despite continuous expansion in higher education, digital infrastructure, and economic growth. Although millions of graduates enter the labour market annually, a substantial proportion struggle to secure meaningful employment due to skill mismatches and limited professional readiness. The disconnect between academic achievement and workplace expectations indicates that the education-to-employment pipeline is fragmented, insufficiently guided, and inadequately aligned with industry needs. As technology reshapes job roles and competency requirements, the lack of structured career guidance and access to skill-development opportunities further widens employability disparities across diverse socio-economic groups.The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) emphasizes the importance of holistic development, vocational integration, interdisciplinary learning, and technology-enabled education to enhance employability. However, policy recommendations must be operationalized through practical frameworks that connect institutions, industries, and learners in a collaborative ecosystem. This study examines the influence of socio-economic background, educational exposure, and digital accessibility on career preparedness among students. It proposes a Holistic Career Guidance Framework (HCGF) aligned with NEP 2020 to address the prevailing skill gap. The research is grounded in quantitative survey data and supported by contemporary literature that collectively emphasizes the need for transformative guidance mechanisms in the Indian education system.