India is the world’s second most populous country, after the Republic of China. India is currently the world’s second-most populous country, accounting for 2.4% of the global land area and 17.5% of the global population. This means that one in every six people on Earth is an Indian. According to the United Nations, India’s population of 1.3 billion people will surpass China’s population of 1.4 billion by 2024, making it the world’s most populous country. Population growth is viewed as a threat and a burden on the planet. The rapid increase in the number of people in a given area is referred to as a population explosion. It is a situation in which the country’s economy cannot keep up with the country’s rapid population growth. Furthermore, it is a situation in which the economy is unable to provide adequate facilities to its citizens. The poorer nations, also known as developing countries, are the largest contributors to the population explosion. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, while Lakshadweep is the least populous. As a result, population explosion is inversely related to development in that area. Population growth has become the mother of all evils in our country, trapping people in a web of poverty and illiteracy that exacerbates the problem. In India, there is always a crowd of people at any time of day, whether it is at a metro station, airport, railway platform, road, highway bus stop, shopping mall, market, or even a social or religious gathering. The difference in birth rates is the primary cause of this population explosion. The birth rate is the number of people born in a population over a given period. The human birth rate is the number of babies born each year per 1000 people in the population. For example, if 35 births occur per 1000 people per year, the birth rate is 35). The death rate is the ratio of deaths to individuals in a given population over a given period. Simply put, the incidence of deaths in a given population over a specified period (such as a year) is expressed per 1000 people. Aside from these, some other factors contribute to the population explosion, such as a decrease in infant mortality rate (Mortality rate refers to the number of deaths of infants below the age of 6 months.), Increased life expectancy (An estimate of the average number of additional years that a person of a given age can expect to live). People’s life expectancy used to be around 55-60 years. The average person’s age has now risen to 70-75 years.) However, thanks to improved medical facilities, we can now extend people’s lives. Previously, the birth and death rates were balanced due to limited medical facilities, people dying in wars, and other calamities. Another factor contributing to population growth is illiteracy. Illiterate people become traditional, superstitious, and ignorant. For example, Kerala has a very high literacy rate despite accounting for only 2.76% of India’s population, whereas Uttar Pradesh has the highest illiteracy rate and accounts for 16.49% of the population. Well-educated people are well aware of birth control methods. Family planning, welfare programmes, and policies have failed to produce the desired results. The increase in population is putting tremendous strain on India’s limited infrastructure and undermining its progress.

Education is not a seasonal or seasonal activity or pursuit. Education and knowledge are both ongoing processes that occur throughout an individual’s lifetime. Every day, as the saying goes, we learn something new. Even formal education is not limited to children or young adults. Adult education allows mature adults to learn more and hone any specific skills they desire. Adult education entails providing mature adults with a variety of educational options for learning new skills or honing existing ones. It is a method of educating adults beyond the traditional school and college education that we provide to children. Adult education can be formal, vocational, recreational, social, and so on.

Adult or Continuing Education differs from traditional school and college education. We must consider that these adults are already experienced and, more than likely, employed. As a result, the curriculum and teaching methods must be modified to account for this. The significance of adult education stems from the fact that it builds on prior knowledge. Adult education’s main goal and significance are to level the playing field for certain adults in the professional world. As a result of having access to education, they have a second chance at a better career or advancement in their current one. They can even learn new skills that will help them in their careers. They can advance their careers by broadening their knowledge and skill set. Adult education also teaches students how to apply their skills and knowledge in the real world. 

Another advantage of adult education is that it increases societal and national literacy rates. Adults will be able to reach their full potential in their personal lives if they improve their basic literacy. While we have seen the benefits and importance of adult education, we cannot ignore the fact that there are some significant challenges that we face with the concept of adult education. The most notable aspect is that most adults must balance a full-time job and career with such educational activities. They struggle to find the time and energy to balance both.

At times, the individual may also have full-time responsibilities at home. They struggle to balance all of their responsibilities while still attending classes regularly. Some adults even lack the confidence and motivation to return to school after a long absence.

Various programmes for adult education and skill development have been initiated and promoted by the Government of India over the last few decades. The primary goal of these programmes is to increase literacy rates in the country’s poorest areas. Their goal has also been to increase the literacy rates of our country’s scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, rural women, and other often overlooked minorities. The “Saakshar Bharat” scheme and the “Scheme to Support Voluntary Agencies for Adult Education and Skill Development” are two of the main schemes that have seen some success. The government also provides aid and assistance to other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to promote adult education in our country.