Over 60 Lakh Youth Trained Under Skill India Mission Since 2021; PMKVY, ITIs, and JSS Driving Employment Growth

New Delhi— Under the ambitious Skill India Mission (SIM), the Government of India has trained over 60 lakh youth across the country in the last four years through various skilling, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), through schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), continues to expand access to job-ready, industry-relevant training — particularly benefitting states like Uttar Pradesh, where the demand for skilled workers is rapidly increasing.

According to data shared by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development Jayant Chaudhary in the Lok Sabha, nearly 20.34 lakh youth were trained under PMKVY in FY 2024–25 alone, marking the highest annual enrolment since 2021. Other schemes also reported strong participation: 13.09 lakh under CTS, 9.85 lakh under NAPS, and 4.55 lakh under JSS this financial year. These numbers highlight a significant jump in outreach and engagement compared to previous years.

While employment tracking under PMKVY was emphasized in its first three phases (2015–2022), where over 24.37 lakh candidates secured placements, the ongoing PMKVY 4.0 is now focused on career flexibility, entrepreneurship, and digital empowerment. Tools like the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) are enabling candidates to explore varied career paths and connect with industry-specific opportunities.

Independent evaluations of these flagship schemes reflect a strong impact on livelihood and income enhancement. A NITI Aayog study in 2020 found that 94% of surveyed employers preferred PMKVY-certified candidates, and 52% of employed individuals under the scheme reported receiving higher salaries or better prospects than their uncertified peers.

Similarly, the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme has demonstrated notable social and economic gains, particularly for women and rural communities. With 79% female beneficiaries and 50.5% from rural backgrounds, the scheme led to a 73.4% increase in employment, 89.1% rise in income, and 77% of beneficiaries shifting to more skilled occupations, favoring self-employment in alignment with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

In the industrial training space, a 2018 Tracer Study reported that 63.5% of ITI graduates found employment, including 6.7% who opted for self-employment. For apprenticeships, the 2021 evaluation of NAPS affirmed that the structured on-the-job training had increased youth employability across sectors. The updated NAPS now utilizes Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for smoother and more transparent stipend disbursal to apprentices.

The Government of India continues to enhance the design and delivery of its skilling ecosystem to ensure maximum enrolment, meaningful employment, and long-term retention. With a renewed focus on future-ready skills, innovation, and digital empowerment, the Skill India Mission is fast becoming a cornerstone of India’s workforce transformation journey.