New Delhi, Aug 12 - India's youth demographic is high and therefore their involvement in policy making and decision making process is crucial, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan said Wednesday.

Khan was speaking at a round table discussion held in observance of International Youth Day at the United Nations (UN) country headquarters here at Lodhi Road.

'The country's youth demographic is high. Hence their involvement in policy making and the decision making process is crucial. They need to be empowered further. This is why the National Youth Policy was formulated and our parliamentary forum on youth also works for this,' Khan said.

'India's youth that accounts for over 50 percent of the population is an advantage for us when compared to the rest of the world - but this can become a disadvantage if their energy and capacity is not channelised properly.'

At the discussion organised jointly by the UN Information Centre (UNIC) and NGO India World Foundation, several senior journalists, social activists and young parliamentarians and professionals participated.

Ajay Jha, a senior journalist who participated in the discussion observed: 'The youth despite being the highest demographic is neglected in a majority of the country's legislations and policies.