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Cover Story

Government skilling schemes: A Progress Report

he Union ministry of skill development and entrepreneur- lakh individuals during the period 2019-24. Simultaneously
Tship (MSDE) was established in May 2014 by the BJP gov- the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati, provided
ernment, soon after it won a decisive mandate in the General training to 1.43 lakh people.
Election, to co-ordinate “all skill development efforts across Skill India Digital Hub platform. Launched in August 2023, this
the country” and achieve the vision of a ‘Skilled India’. Since digital platform integrates all government skilling schemes and
then, MSDE has initiated several skilling programmes under provides access to 690 online courses, 1,650 e-books, eS-
its Skill India Mission. The latest Economic Survey 2023-24, hram/EPFO/NCS, Udyam, DigiLocker, GatiShakti, UMANG,
released on July 22, provides a progress report of government AgriStack, PLI Schemes, ODOP, etc. Thus far 6 million stu-
skilling schemes: dents have registered.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY, free short-duration New-age and future skills. The National Council for Vocational
skill training and certification). Since the scheme’s inception in Education & Training (NCVET) has approved 200 new-age and
2015, 14.2 million persons have been trained, and 11.3 million future skill courses. In collaboration with Delhi University, it
certified under its Short-Term Training, Special Projects and offers 100 new-age skill courses and 23 with ITIs.
Recognition of Prior Learning components. Skill India International Centres (SIIC). Union Budget 2023-24
Other initiatives launched under PMKVY include compul- announced the launch of 30 SIICs. Of them, two centres at
sory inclusion of on-the-job training in short-term training Varanasi and Bhubaneswar have become operational with
courses; 1,000 educational institutions nationwide onboarded another seven centres to come up soon.
as Skill India Centres and 119 new age and future skill courses NSDC International Limited. Promoted in 2021 for “ethical and
introduced for eight sectors. transparent” international placement of skilled Indians abroad,
Craftsmen Training Scheme at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). it has placed over 26,000 Indian candidates in priority sec-
Vocational training has been delivered to 1.24 lakh people tors such as information technology, construction in several
through 14,955 ITIs. countries.
Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS). This programme has been intro- PM Vishwakarma programme. Launched in September 2023
duced for skilling non/neo literates and persons with rudi- for recognition, skill upgradation, collateral free credit and
mentary education. During the period 2019-2024, 2.6 million marketing support to traditional artisans/craftspersons, the
individuals have been trained, and 2.4 million certified. programme skills and supports 18 trades including tailors,
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). Since it was barbers, masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, basket weavers,
launched in 2017, 3.2 million apprentices have been placed potters, etc. Currently, 1,533 centres in 25 states/UTs are pro-
in 2.21 lakh establishments. Under the scheme, government viding five-15 days training with a stipend of Rs.500 per day.
reimburses 25 percent of the stipend (up to Rs.1,500) directly As on May 27, 21 million applications have been received,
to the bank accounts of apprentices. and 4.37 lakh individuals trained.
Entrepreneurship training. The National Institute for Entrepreneur-
ship and Small Business Development provided training to 3.21 Source: The Economic Survey 2023-24

to provide business management plus months ago, the company has lish which our
new-age skilling programmes such as signed up 2,500 students for its students from
generative AI, machine learning, data online weekend, pay after place- small towns and
analytics, leadership, of few weeks to ment and placement assistance cities prefer.
three years duration. programmes, campus work- Moreover, our
Uplifters Academy, Gurugram shops, summer internship pro- fees are afford-
(estb.2023) is one such “skills-based grams and virtual masterclasses. able with several
edtech startup” specifically targeting “Our goal is to support and flexible payment
college students and entrepreneurs in enhance India’s under-prepared options,” says
tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Promoted by and undervalued youth by up- Umang Sangal Sangal. Tuition
Umang Sangal (29), an alum of NIT, skilling them to compete with fees per student
Allahabad, the objective of Uplifters their counterparts worldwide. Cur- for four-seven month skilling courses
is to deliver skilling programmes in rently, we offer upskilling courses in range between Rs.5,000-20,000.
new-age IT technologies to pre and fi- data science, software development The swelling rush for upskilling
nal year undergrads and working pro- and digital marketing for which there courses is not confined to the manu-
fessionals to enable them to become is maximum demand. Our distinguish- facturing, services, IT and new tech
job-ready and progress up the execu- ing feature is that we teach in ‘Hing- industries. It has also spread to the
tive ladder. Since it was promoted 18 lish’, a combination of Hindi and Eng- biotech, life sciences, health and medi-

54 EDUCATIONWORLD AUGUST 2024