Assessment of Skill Development Initiatives

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) assesses skill development initiatives under the Skill India Mission (SIM).
• Key schemes evaluated include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
• Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM) conducted third-party evaluations for these schemes.
• PMKVY 4.0 evaluation showed an 18.8 percentage point increase in employment/self-employment for Short-Term Training candidates.
• JSS achieved a 99% success rate, with 82% women and 73% marginalized beneficiaries, and a four-fold increase in average monthly income.
• NAPS engaged 34.69 lakh apprentices, achieving approximately 75% of its cumulative target.

Detailed Insights:

• MSDE delivers skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through an extensive network, including Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
• PMKVY 4.0 focuses on empowering trained candidates with industry-relevant skills, including On-the-Job Training (OJT).
• Government undertakes periodic reviews of skilling initiatives, assessing enrolment, certification, placement, and self-employment outcomes.
• These reviews facilitate continuous curriculum updates, industry collaboration, and alignment with evolving technology and labor-market needs.
• The NAPS evaluation highlighted that the institutionalization of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has improved financial transparency and predictability.
• All MSDE schemes undergo third-party evaluation exercises, particularly when extensions are granted, to ensure their effectiveness.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Skill India Mission (SIM): A flagship initiative by the Government of India to train and certify a large number of Indian youth in various skills.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): The flagship scheme of the MSDE providing skill training to Indian youth to enhance employability.
• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS): A scheme providing vocational skills to non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts, primarily in rural areas.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): A scheme to promote apprenticeship training and increase the engagement of apprentices in the industry.
• Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS): Implemented through ITIs, it provides vocational training to youth for industrial employment.
• Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM): An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Finance, conducting research and training in financial management.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): A system where subsidies and benefits are directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts.