The Impressive TimesNew Delhi – The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has taken substantial steps to combat unemployability in India’s rural regions by significantly expanding its skilling ecosystem under the flagship Skill India Mission (SIM). According to the India Skill Report 2024 by Wheebox, the employability rate of Indian youth has increased to 51.25%, up from 40.44% in 2017, showcasing measurable progress in skilling outcomes.
As per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the National Sample Survey Office, the unemployment rate in rural areas for individuals aged 15–59 has seen a marked decline—from 5.7% in 2017–18 to just 2.8% in 2023–24.
To further this momentum, the government has intensified efforts to deliver skill, re-skill, and up-skill training to youth through a vast network of training centres under schemes like:
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
These schemes are designed to make India’s youth future-ready, particularly with the growing demand for AI, Mechatronics, Cybersecurity, and Robotics.
To align skill training with evolving industry needs, the MSDE has introduced:
36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) led by industry stakeholders to ensure sector-specific training and certification.
Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST) by DGT to allow ITI students to train in real industrial settings.
New-age job roles under PMKVY aligned with Industry 4.0, especially in areas like AI/ML, Drone Technology, and IoT.
31 new future-skills courses introduced in ITIs and NSTIs to address demand in emerging technologies.
Partnerships with tech giants like IBM, CISCO, AWS, Microsoft, and Future Skills Prime under CSR initiatives to provide hands-on training and digital fluency.
The establishment of Indian Institutes of Skills (IIS) in Ahmedabad and Mumbai under a PPP model is another milestone, focusing on hands-on, advanced training for an industry-ready workforce.
The recently launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) is a unified digital platform that integrates skilling, employment, education, and entrepreneurship. Through SIDH, trained candidates can connect directly with employers, access job listings, and apply for apprenticeships.
Funds for these training schemes are disbursed to implementing agencies, not directly to districts. For example:
Under PMKVY, ₹1,538.29 crore was allocated in 2024–25, marking a significant jump from ₹693.29 crore in 2023–24.
Under JSS, ₹139.55 crore was released in 2024–25 to support vocational training by NGOs.
Additionally, Rozgar Melas and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) are being held nationwide to connect certified youth with potential employers.
This comprehensive approach is aimed at reducing unemployment sustainably while making rural youth contributors to India’s digital and industrial transformation.
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