Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives, GS3/Economy
Context
- Skill India Mission completed ten years.
About Skill India Mission (SIM)
- Launched on 15 July 2015, World Youth Skills Day, the Skill India Mission provides skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres and institutes under various schemes.
- In February 2025, the restructured ‘Skill India Programme’ was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26, merging Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme into a single Central Sector Scheme.
- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)– Offers short-term skill training and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for youth nationwide, including rural areas.
- National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)– Promotes apprenticeship with financial support for stipends, providing both basic and on-the-job training.
- Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS)– Provides vocational skills to non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts (up to 12th standard), focusing on women, SC/ST/OBC, and minorities in rural and low-income urban areas.
Major Achievements (2015–2025)
- Over 6 crore youth skilled: Across 38 sectors, including IT, manufacturing, services, construction, and agriculture.
- Women empowerment: Special initiatives increased female workforce participation in several sectors.
- Recognition: India ranked 11th in the WorldSkills Competition 2022.
- Sector-wise employment: Notable growth—manufacturing (15%), services (20%), construction (25%).
Socio-Economic Impact
- Unemployment reduced: Employability among Indian graduates has risen to 54.81% (India Skills Report 2025).
- Workforce participation increased: Employment rate rose from 36.9% to 37.9% in the same period.
- Inclusive growth: Imparted growth for rural, tribal, LWE-affected, and Northeast regions.
- Entrepreneurship boost: Youth equipped for self-employment, MSMEs, and start-ups.
Challenges
- Quality & Industry Relevance: Skill mismatch continues in several sectors.
- Low absorption by industry: Some trained candidates still face placement hurdles, especially in rural and informal sectors.
- Regional disparities: Uneven implementation and outcomes across states.
- Social biases: Vocational training sometimes seen as inferior to mainstream education.
- Infrastructure and trainer shortage: Gaps in modern equipment and skilled trainers
- Funding Delays: Funding delays and coordination issues between Central and State bodies flagged by the Sinha Committee (2022).
Way Forward
- Digital push: Greater integration of e-learning, AI-driven monitoring, and blended training models.
- Enhanced private sector and global partnerships: Focus on international standards and global value chains.
- Regular impact assessment: Focus on outcomes (job placement, entrepreneurship) beyond just training numbers.
Source: PIB
Next article
India’s Strategic Push for Global Capability Centers
