Government Reiterates Its Commitment For Reimagining Skilling

Key Highlights:

• NITI Aayog released a report titled “Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047” outlining a skilling architecture.
• The report clarifies the definition of NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) youth, aged 15-29 years.
• NEET youth are distinct from the unemployed and do not contribute to unemployment rates.
• Government introduced Integrated Scheme in Skilling Architecture (ISSA) with ₹600 crore in Union Budget 2026-27.
• Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), introduced in 2017-18, provides annual employment estimates and shifted to a Jan-Dec cycle from January 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The NITI Aayog report identifies five key segments of learners/workforce for future skilling needs.
• The NEET figures in the report are based on the NSS 78th Round (FY 2020–21), a period affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The government emphasizes robust, evidence-based policymaking, improving data collection through PLFS.
• PLFS replaced earlier five-yearly NSSO Employment-Unemployment Surveys, providing more timely data.
• ISSA aims to strengthen convergence across education, skilling, employment, and lifelong learning systems.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Viksit Bharat@2047: India's vision to become a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of its independence.
• NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training): A category of young people (15-29 years) who are neither studying, working, nor undergoing training.
• Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): An annual survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to estimate employment and unemployment indicators.
• Integrated Scheme in Skilling Architecture (ISSA): A government scheme introduced to enhance convergence in education, skilling, and employment ecosystems.