Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0

PMKVY is a flagship scheme for skill certification, being launched to help Indian youth take up industry-relevant skill training to get better livelihoods. Components of this scheme include Short Term Training, Special Projects and Recognition of Prior Learning.

About the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0

Skilling plays a crucial role in enhancing individual productivity leading to an increase in employment and income of the workforce.
The increase in productivity and employment in turn has a ripple effect on the economy resulting in enhanced competitiveness.
With the everchanging nature of job market, the shelf life of skills has shortened building a case for continuous lifelong learning. For that reason, skilling, reskilling, and upskilling are crucial pillars for a growthoriented economy.
Further, studies have also identified that upskilling would lead to a substantial boost in the Indian GDP. 1.2 India is strategically placed with a young population having an average median age of ~28 years which provides a window of opportunity to make India the Skill Capital of the World.
Skilling is poised to be the key driver for ‘Amrit Kaal’ envisioning a New India with inclusive welfare, technology enabled development, climate action through energy transitions, galloping towards a multi-trillion dollars’ economy.
1.3 Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was established in 2014 with an overall objective to promote skilling and entrepreneurship development in India. 1.4 In 2015, MSDE launched its flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), to encourage and promote skill development in the country by providing free short-duration skill training and incentivizing youth for skill certification.
1.5 Between 2015 – 2022, three versions of the scheme have been implemented with varied approach and strategy. Cumulatively, more than 1.37 crore youths have been trained across various sectors.

Features of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0

Skill Development and Training – The scheme provides training in emerging and industry-relevant sectors, including AI, robotics, 3D printing, and coding.
On-the-Job Training & Apprenticeships – PMKVY 4.0 emphasizes on-the-job training, internships, and apprenticeships to offer hands-on experience.
Industry and Market-Driven Approach – Training programs are designed based on industry demands to ensure better employment opportunities.
Integration with Digital Platforms – E-learning modules and digital training methods are incorporated to improve accessibility and efficiency.
Targeted Beneficiaries – The scheme focuses on school dropouts, unemployed youth, and individuals seeking upskilling for career advancement.
Rural and Urban Coverage – Training centers are established across India, including rural and remote areas, ensuring inclusive skill development.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Individuals with existing skills can get certified, improving their employability.
Financial Support & Incentives – The government provides financial aid for training and certification, making skill development accessible to all.
Entrepreneurial Support – The program encourages self-employment by providing guidance and resources for startups.

Objective of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0

Promote an enabling ecosystem for the youths to get skilled and choose a career path aligned with their abilities and aspirations.
Enable delivery of skill training in a market-oriented and demanddriven manner by making the existing skilling ecosystem more flexible, swift, and geared to meet the emerging demand along with emphasis on improving the employability of candidates.
Process simplification of the skill ecosystem by leveraging technology and digitalization.
Enhance access to skilling by setting up a network of skill development infrastructure in remote parts of the country to cater to the needs of difficult geographies such as hilly terrain, LWE-effected areas, border areas, etc. by designing special projects.
Improve inclusivity by ensuring that SC, ST, women, and other marginalized communities can undertake skill training and eventually access gainful wage and self-employment.
Provide opportunity for lifelong skilling through the crucial pillars of upskilling and reskilling to address the dynamic needs of the ever-changing market.
Quality training delivery through trained pedagogy, standardized assessments, and industry relevant curriculum.
Facilitate to enhance employability of candidates through training in transferable skills and incentives for employment generation.
Provide candidate-centric training with emphasis on industry-relevant skills.

Design Principles of PMKVY 4.0

PMKVY 4.0 has been designed to make the scheme flexible, inclusive, technology enabled, and market driven resulting in better employability. Broad design principles are outlined below:
Enhance industry-connect, greater reliance on On-the-Job Training in short-term training for learning by doing. In addition, encourage industry buy-in and contribution for skilling (including sharing of 3 Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 training infrastructure, demand aggregation, OJT, etc.).
Emphasis on re-skilling, and upskilling under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through innovation in assessment and better monitoring.
Digitalization of training ecosystem through online integrated systems including registration and counselling,
Delinking of placement from skilling to lay emphasis on empowering trained candidates to choose their career path with focus of entrepreneurship and livelihood creation.
Simplification of procedures by reducing compliance burden, enlisting multiple Assessment Agencies and Awarding Bodies, reengineering IT systems based on requirement of stakeholders, etc.
Creation of a national pool of trainers and assessors to ensure their availability and efficient implementation of training and faster assessment.
Flexibility in course curriculum by introducing courses in partnership with industry, Ministries/Departments, etc.
Focus on online/digital/blended skilling for effective learning, convenience, and outreach.
Emphasis on community engagement through training in job roles addressing the skill needs of the informal sector or basic self-employed.
Focus on New Age Skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, Climate Change, Circular Economy, Green Economy, and Energy Transition.

Implementation Strategy

Policy Framework: MSDE will provide the overall policy framework for the implementation of PMKVY 4.0.
Regulatory framework: National Council of Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) will provide a unified regulatory framework, including recognizing Awarding Bodies (ABs) and Assessment Agencies (AAs) for National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned courses.
Implementing Agency: National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will support MSDE in effectively implementing the scheme as per approved guidelines by providing technical and knowledge support in various aspects of the scheme as mandated by MSDE.
Training Providers: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), PMKVY Training Centres, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Skill Hubs (Schools, colleges, Higher Education Institutes), training centres of other Ministries/Department, training centres of industry partners and private training providers, etc. for training of candidates.
Sector Skill Councils: Sector Skill Councils will promote industry connect through skill gap studies, 4 Guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 curriculum development, facilitating On-the-Job Training (OJT), Training of Trainers and Assessors and support in overall implementation of the scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 for UPSC CSE Prelims

Launch Year – Announced in Union Budget 2023-24.
Objective – Skill development and upskilling of youth for employability.
Target Beneficiaries – Focus on school dropouts, unemployed youth, and fresh graduates.
Implementation – By Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
Key Features:
- Industry-oriented courses aligned with emerging sectors (AI, robotics, coding, 3D printing).
- On-the-job training & apprenticeships to enhance practical skills.
- Focus on Digital Learning through e-learning platforms.
- Special focus on rural and tier-2/3 cities to bridge the skill gap.
Integration with Other Schemes – Linked with Skill India Digital Platform & other government initiatives.
Certification & Employment – Provides skill certification and industry-recognized credentials.
Funding Model – Government-funded with incentives for training providers.

Way forward

PMKVY 4.0 should focus on industry-aligned training, digital skills, rural outreach, and stronger placement support. Strengthening public-private partnerships, integrating emerging technologies, and enhancing monitoring mechanisms will ensure better employability. Expanding skill hubs and promoting entrepreneurship can further boost India’s workforce readiness and economic growth.

Conclusion

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0 aims to enhance youth employability through skill training, bridging the gap between industry needs and workforce capabilities. By promoting certification and entrepreneurship, it strengthens India’s skilled workforce, driving economic growth and self-reliance in an evolving job market.