Across the world, public life feels increasingly fragmented and polarised, even as technological, ecological, and demographic upheavals gather pace. India’s greatest opportunity — and challenge — in this moment lies with its youth. With 65% of the population under the age of 35 years, an aging global population, and profound changes in the nature of work, the question before us is stark. Can India’s leaders ensure that our young people are mainstreamed economically and democratically?

Doing so will require shifting our gaze from metropolitan hubs to the districts where most Indians live. Nearly 85% of Indians remain in the district of their birth, yet cities that cover just 3% of the country’s land account for over 60% of GDP. This concentration of growth, both social and geographic, has

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