New Delhi, February 1, 2025 – The Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, underscores the government’s commitment to equipping the nation’s youth with industry-relevant skills through a range of impactful programs under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Key Skill Development Initiatives:
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Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):
- Launch: 2015, with version 4.0 implemented from FY 2022 to 2026.
- Objective: Providing free, short-duration skill training and incentivizing youth for certification.
- Achievements: Over 1.48 crore candidates trained/oriented as of June 30, 2024.
- Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS):
- Launch: Transferred to the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in July 2018.
- Objective: Offering vocational training to non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts in rural areas.
- Achievements: 4.29 lakh beneficiaries enrolled, with over 2.37 lakh certified across 32 states and 283 districts.
- PM Vishwakarma Yojana:
- Launch: September 17, 2023.
- Objective: Supporting artisans and craftspeople in 18 trades with skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, and credit support.
- Achievements: Over 2.64 crore applications submitted, with 27 lakh successfully registered by January 2025.
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY):
- Launch: September 25, 2014.
- Objective: Diversifying incomes of rural poor families and catering to rural youth’s career aspirations.
- Achievements: 65% placement rate, with 16.9 lakh candidates trained and over 10.97 lakh placed as of November 2024.
- Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs):
- Launch: January 2009.
- Objective: Providing quality residential training with post-training credit linkage to promote rural entrepreneurship.
- Achievements: Over 54 lakh candidates trained in FY 2024-25, a significant increase from 22.89 lakh in 2016-17.
These initiatives are pivotal in bridging the skill gap, fostering innovation, and creating new job opportunities, thus paving the way for a self-reliant and developed India (Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat).
Source: PIB
