| Home Guard monthly salary | 18,000 rupees ($220 USD) |
183 Jobs | 8,500 Candidates |
The video highlights a striking image from Odisha, India, where 8,500 candidates appeared for a single exam to fill 183 Home Guard posts, illustrating intense competition with 46 applicants per vacancy. Due to the unexpectedly large number of candidates and concerns over exam security, the Odisha police conducted the exam on an airstrip, which served as an unconventional, large-scale exam hall.
This widespread demand for jobs underscores the high unemployment and underemployment challenges in India. While official figures indicate an overall unemployment rate of 4.7% (as of November) and the government claims creation of 125 million jobs in the past decade, there remains a disconnect between economic growth and job availability. India’s GDP grew by 8.2% in the last quarter, and the job market expanded by 6% in 2024, yet many graduates around 30% remain unemployed, one of the highest rates globally.
