GS3 – Indian Economy
Context:
On World Youth Skills Day 2025, the Union Minister launched the Kaushal ka Dashak campaign, marking the decade-long journey of the Skill India Mission.
About the Mission:
Launched in July 2015 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Skill India aims to unify and modernize India’s fragmented skill ecosystem, fostering industry-relevant training and global employability.
Key Features:
- Whole-of-Government & Society Approach: Synergizes central ministries, state agencies, private sector, and civil society.
- Industry Alignment: Emphasizes job-ready skills, entrepreneurship, and international mobility.
Flagship Schemes:
- PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 4.0):
- Short-Term Training (STT): NSQF-aligned classroom and practical training.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Certifies informal skills with industry validation.
- Special Projects: Targets vulnerable groups, aspirational districts, and new job roles.
- PM National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS):
- Incentivizes businesses to hire apprentices.
- Focus on hands-on learning and closing industry-skill gaps.
- Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS):
- Provides livelihood-linked training to non-literates and school dropouts in rural/semi-urban areas.
Achievements Over 10 Years:
- Training Scale: Over 6 crore individuals trained.
- PMKVY Impact: 1.64 crore youth trained in short-term, industry-focused programs.
- Institutional Reforms: 14,500+ ITIs strengthened with better governance, transparency, and private participation.
Major Reforms:
- 36% increase in apprenticeship stipends.
- Special ₹1,500/month support for candidates from the North-Eastern Region.
- ₹60,000 crore ITI revamp with ₹10,000 crore CSR funding.
- Rationalisation: 4.5 lakh ITI seats de-affiliated; 99,000 under review.
- 11% increase in ITI admissions (2024).
Challenges:
- Inconsistent training quality and outdated curriculum.
- Inadequate infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
- Misalignment with real-time industry needs.
- Retention issues due to low wages and limited career progression.
Way Forward:
- National Skill Grid: Real-time tracking of training, employment, and market demand.
- Skill India Digital Platform: AI-enabled learning, digital credentials, and job matching.
- 4Ps Model: Public-Private-People-Panchayat collaboration for grassroots skilling.
- NEP Integration: Embed skilling in school curriculum with flexible, credit-based learning pathways.