Artificial Intelligence and Skill India Initiatives

Key Highlights:

• The Skill India Mission (SIM), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), provides skill training through schemes like PMKVY, JSS, NAPS, and CTS via ITIs.
• PMKVY 4.0 emphasizes future skills and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Robotics, and Cyber Security.
• The Directorate General of Training (DGT) has developed 170 NSQF-compliant courses, including 32 new-age skills, delivered through ITIs and NSTIs.
• PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs) is a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of ₹60,000 crore.
• PMKVY 1.0 to PMKVY 3.0 certified 1.11 Crore candidates, with 24.38 lakh reported placed under the Short Term Training component.
• National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been established as an overarching regulator for quality in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
• Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry leaders, identify skill development needs and determine competency standards for their sectors.

Detailed Insights:

• PMKVY 4.0, implemented since FY 2022-23, focuses on preparing youth for new job roles in areas like Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Data Analytics, and Green Technologies.
• DGT's new-age courses under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) include specific roles such as 5G Network Technician, AI Programming Assistant, and Drone Technician.
• Skill Gap studies, conducted by SSCs and supported by the SANKALP scheme, guide government interventions to align training with industry demand.
• MSDE has partnered with IT companies like IBM, CISCO, Microsoft, and AWS to ensure industry linkages and provide training in modern technologies.
• Indian Institute of Skills (IIS), established in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode at Ahmedabad and Mumbai, provides cutting-edge technology and hands-on training.
• PM-SETU aims to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model, focusing on industry-led governance and supporting self-employment and entrepreneurship.
• Kaushal Melas and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) are organized to facilitate placements and apprenticeship opportunities for certified candidates.
• Placement monitoring is not conducted under PMKVY 4.0, as the scheme focuses on empowering candidates to choose varied career paths.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Skill India Mission (SIM): A government initiative to train 40 crore people in India in various skills by 2022, aiming to create a skilled workforce.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): The flagship scheme of MSDE providing skill training to Indian youth, focusing on industry-relevant skills.
• National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF): A competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills, and aptitude.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): A scheme to promote apprenticeship training and increase the engagement of apprentices in the industry.
• Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs): Post-secondary schools in India providing vocational training in various trades to prepare students for industrial employment.
• National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET): An overarching regulator for vocational education and training in India, ensuring quality and standards.
• Sector Skill Councils (SSCs): Industry-led bodies that identify skill development needs, determine competency standards, and develop qualifications for their respective sectors.
• SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion): A World Bank-supported program to improve institutional mechanisms for skill development and increase access to quality training.
• PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs): A scheme to upgrade ITIs to improve employability outcomes through industry-led governance and support self-employment.