Kolkata, Aug 24 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee Sunday said it is "absolutely necessary" to impart skill training to 500 million India youths by 2020 in order to increase the employability of the work force.

"By 2030, India is going to have 20 percent of the whole world's working population living in the country. More than 50 percent of India's population will be below 30 years," Mukherjee said while inaugurating the Management Development Institute (MDI) campus in Jangipur area of West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

"The vast multitude" of working forces can be transformed into skilled manpower through proper training, and this would enhance their job prospects.

"The demographic dividend which we talk of... if we convert this vast multitude of working forces into skilled workers, their employability will increase manifold and therefore the target of providing skill to 500 million young persons in India is absolutely necessary," he said.