This chapter delves into the critical role of youth mentoring in India’s socio-educational landscape, emphasizing the juxtaposition of historical mentorship traditions with contemporary challenges. India has a large youth population. Unfortunately, youth in India face obstacles in educational quality, static social mobility, and inadequate mental health services that can impede their development. We first examine the historical and cultural foundations of mentorship in India, drawing from the ancient Guru–Shishya tradition. Second, we analyze educational policies and the emergence of youth mentoring as a policy focus, especially in the National Education Policy 2020. Third, we present the burgeoning youth mentoring movement across government and civil society efforts covering a diverse range of models and approaches. Finally, we explore the potential of professional youth mentoring in the Indian context, akin to the ASHA model in healthcare. This chapter contributes to the discourse on youth mentoring in India, providing insights into its evolution, current practices, and future directions. We advocate for evidence-based mentoring interventions as a means to harness India's demographic dividend, supporting the transition of its youth into capable, skilled adults capable of driving socioeconomic progress.