While replying to Lok Sabha recently, the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary shared about the actions and measures taken to enhance the Skill India Programme (SIP).
The Union Cabinet, on 7th February 2025, approved the continuation of the Central Sector Scheme of Skill India Programme (SIP) for the period FY 2022-23 to 2025-26. The SIP comprises three components namely
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0),
- Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM – NAPS) and
- Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS).
He further shared the number of candidates trained/ oriented/ engaged under SIP during 2024-25 which were as PMKVY (20,38,319), JSS (5,00,469), and NAPS (9,85,041). He also mentioned that the shortfall in the number of trained candidates against the target set is due to implementation of SIP in phases.
Under the SIP, the schemes are demand-driven and provide skill, reskilling, and upskilling training to all sections of society, including marginalized groups, across the country. This includes coverage of backward, tribal, and remote areas, subject to the fulfilment of prescribed eligibility criteria.
He further stated “the following action is being undertaken by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to enhance the outreach of SIP to marginalized groups and backward, tribal and remote regions:
- MSDE is implementing skilling component under various schemes for catering to the marginalized section such as Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha AbhiyaN (PM-JANMAN) of M/o Tribal Affairs, Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) of M/o Home Affairs, National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE), etc.
- JSS is a community-driven skilling scheme targeting women and other vulnerable sections of the community with an aim to provide skill training at the doorsteps of the beneficiary. The skill training provided through JSSs is, flexible, affordable and highly accessible to women, SC, ST, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and any other disadvantaged groups of society.
- Under the Dharti Aaba – Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA), the MSDE has launched an initiative through the JSS Scheme to enhance last-mile skilling in tribal-dominated areas. As part of this effort, 30 Tribal Skilling Centres (TSCs) have been set up across 30 tribal districts in 15 States and Union Territories.
PMKVY 4.0
PMKVY 4.0 is a demand driven scheme. Under the scheme, the skill training is provided based on the demand received from various districts/ states. Under the scheme, the focus is to empower trained candidates to choose their varied career path and they are suitably oriented for the same through On-Job Training (OJT) embedded industry relevant skill courses.
The Government has undertaken comprehensive corrective measures under PMKVY 4.0, including Aadhaar-based e-KYC, face authentication and geo-tagged attendance, QR-coded digital certificates, real-time dashboards on the Skill India Digital Hub, strengthened assessor and training centre accreditation through NCVET, independent monitoring via Kaushal Samiksha Kendra, revised monitoring guidelines with clear KPIs, and a robust penalty and recovery framework.
However, under JSS, Livelihood Cell has been set up to orient the candidates for entrepreneurship and livelihood promotion.
