“India has the potential to become one of the largest providers of skilled workforce in the world,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscoring India’s potential to lead a skill revolution at the global level.
With over 65% of its youth in the working age group, India holds the advantage of a blooming demographic dividend unlike any other country in the world. However, the full benefits of this dividend can be realised only if the youth is equipped with the right kind of skills—skills required to meet the demands of modern, cutting-edge jobs. Hence, a focus on innovation, education, and nurturing talent would be key in making India the skill capital of the world.
PM Modi’s government has been conscious of this potential, and has undertaken multiple initiatives to bridge the skill gap in India to shape a formidable workforce. An example of this commitment is the creation of a dedicated Ministry for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in 2014. This was for the first time since Independence that a separate ministry was formed to ensure that the youth can keep up with the changing needs of the job market, enhancing their productivity and employability.
Cementing this vision, the Modi government launched the Skill India Mission in 2015 to focus upon skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling through short-term and long-term training programs. The Mission offers courses in almost 40 sectors across India. These courses are specifically designed to equip an individual with hands-on knowledge and practical skills required for their job, so that once employed, their employer wouldn’t be required to make further investments in their training and capacity development. The Mission ensures that these courses are in line with the standards recognised by both public and private sector under the National Skill Qualification Framework. Common norms have also been developed across skill development programs so that they are aligned to pursue singular objectives.
The Mission covers under its umbrella unique initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and Craftsmen Training Scheme through Industrial Training Institutes.
A flagship scheme, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) aims to impart short-term skill development training and certification to youth, including in rural areas. With dual training components, such as Short-Term Training and Recognition of Prior Learning, PMKVY establishes skill development infrastructure in the form of PM Kaushal Kendras. Under PMKVY, there are nearly 2,640 training centers, including PM Kaushal Kendras, offering latest pedagogy backed by use of technology. Till October 2023, these centers have trained over 1.40 crore candidates with a funding of more than Rs. 10,000 crore.
Recognition of Prior Learning under PMKVY has significantly aided the transition from unorganised to organised sector as it assesses and recognises the skills of an individual acquired through informal means. Over 50 lakh persons have received certification under this component, not only enhancing their employment opportunities but also paving way for a more organised and skilled workforce within the economy.
Vocational education and training have also been high on the agenda of the Modi government. These not only equip students with practical skills and experience needed for specific trades and technical careers, but also develop them to be career-ready and employable.
In this direction, the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme was initiated with the aim of providing comprehensive support to individuals who are non-literates, neo-literates, school drop-outs, and those with rudimentary education, including divyangjans. The primary objective of this scheme is to equip such individuals with essential vocational skills, improving their access to livelihood opportunities. Here, priority is given to SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and women. Since 2018-19, over 22.58 lakh persons have been trained under JSS.
This is further strengthened by the Craftsmen Training Scheme which provides long-term training through a network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The country has witnessed the establishment of 5000 new ITIs over the past 9 years, resulting in an addition of over 4 lakh new ITI seats. The ITIs provide a spectrum of skill training and vocational courses across a variety of economic sectors, facilitating industry’s access to a skilled workforce as well as self-employment opportunities. Nearly 15,000 centers are functional across India today, having trained over 65 lakh students since FY2018.
Vocational education has also been given its due importance in the National Education Policy 2020. While integrating vocational education with academic education, the policy gets rid of rigid separation between disciplines, and encourages students to choose from a variety of vocational courses to acquire specialised skills. This emphasis has received a renewed push through NEP’s provisions for reinvigorating the research environment in higher educational institutions and promotion of industry-academia linkage.
Building upon the idea of industry-academia linkage, the government started the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to industrial establishments that conduct apprenticeship programs under the Apprenticeship Act, 1961. It incentivises active participation of apprentices and foster apprenticeship training, bridging the gap between theoretical education and practical skills. The scheme has garnered impressive traction with the participation of nearly 50,000 establishments. Remarkably, over 28.22 lakh persons have undergone training under the program since 2018-19.
The government has also amended the Apprentices Act, 1961, giving maximum leverage to the private sector in controlling industry standards. This ensures that these standards remain in alignment with the ever-dynamic market requirements.
Besides, Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) have been conceptualised to enhance training standards beyond the current programs, providing ‘hands on skills’ training to trainees in specialised areas in collaboration with industry. The government has proposed setting up of IIS at three locations—Kanpur, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
In a bid to channelise entrepreneurial energy in the country, the Modi government had also launched the Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana. The scheme aimed to educate, train and support early-stage and potential entrepreneurs. As part of the initiative, candidates have been connected to the MUDRA scheme for initial funding requirements. This integrated approach not only nurtures individual entrepreneurial aspirations but also fosters a broader ecosystem conducive to the growth and success of innovative ventures. Besides, schemes like Startup India and Stand-Up India mainstream the government’s intentions and efforts towards building an entrepreneurial culture in the country.
Taking further the goal of transforming India into a global skill capital and facilitating global mobility of skilled workforce, the government has established National Skill Development Corporation International. Under this initiative, a network of institutions will be set up throughout India in order to develop and hone diverse skills meeting international standards, and providing an effective linkage between skilled candidates and global employers.
The government has also envisioned setting up of 30 Skill India International Centers across the country to facilitate mobility of skilled workforce as per demands in different countries. In addition, MoUs have been signed with nearly 11 countries including Australia, China, Germany, among others in the field of skill development and vocational training.
Also, apart from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, over 20 central ministries are undertaking skilling and upskilling programs through multiple schemes, such as Rural Self Employment Training Institutes and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana under Ministry of Rural Development, and Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and so on.
Latest developments like the launch of Skill India Digital inform the Modi government’s approach towards the skilling landscape in India. Skill India Digital is the Digital Public Infrastructure for the entire skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country. With a focus on digital technology and Industry 4.0 skills, this platform will bring together all skilling initiatives, facilitating learning, training and talent hiring effortlessly. It will also act as a thorough information gateway for all government initiatives related to skilling and entrepreneurship.
PM Modi’s push for an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat is not without substantial content. The bid began with transformation of the fundamental pubic infrastructure, taking basic amenities to the remotest corners of the country. A step ahead was the reform of the education policy with a kind that nurtures cultural integrity while preparing young minds with future skills. The journey, although a lifelong one, is nearing its destination with peerless skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives catering to the new and the modern, leaving no one behind. PM’s recent Drone Didi initiative rings true, in particular.
