India’s Skill India Mission marks its 11th year with over 2.27 crore beneficiaries trained under flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), targeting 40% skilled workforce by decade-end. The Union Cabinet approved ₹8,800 crore extension through 2026, integrating on-the-job training (OJT) with 400+ new courses in AI, cybersecurity, green hydrogen, drones, and semiconductors to meet emerging industry demands. Budget 2026 eyes Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Mudra Yojana (PMKMY), providing collateral-free loans up to ₹5 lakh for skill training in renewables, EVs, and defense, prioritizing women, rural youth, and PwD.
PMKVY 4.0 emphasizes recognition of prior learning (RPL) and demand-driven skilling via 20,000+ training centers, generating 1.5 crore jobs in tier-2/3 cities through Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). Apprenticeship Act amendments mandate 10-15% youth absorption in 1,000+ companies, blending classroom learning with 6-12 month paid stints for real-world exposure. Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission leads state efforts, skilling 50 lakh youth via 1,500 centers focused on MSME linkages.
SANKALP and STRIVE programs enhance district-level planning with ₹300 crore for 100 high-unemployment blocks, fostering industry clusters in textiles, logistics, and healthcare. IndiaSkills 2025-26 launches operational guidelines for global competitions, preparing 1,000 participants across 60 trades while SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) trains 10 lakh in GenAI tools. NCVET’s Kaushal Verse portal standardizes assessments, ensuring 80% placement rates via digital job matching.
Budget allocations boost 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs and ₹500 crore AI Centers of Excellence, aligning with National Education Policy for vocational integration from Class 6. Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) targets 10 crore non-literates with employability skills in 615 districts, while PM YUVA empowers 10 lakh entrepreneurs through entrepreneurship development programs. Uttar Pradesh’s model scales nationally, linking skilling with MUDRA loans for self-employment.
PM Modi’s National Youth Day address ties Skill India to Digital India synergies, with 1,000+ defense startups absorbing drone and AI trainees under Startup India. Semiconductor Workforce Strategy outlines 2 lakh jobs by 2030, backed by Skill Impact Bonds blending public-private funding for outcome-based training. These reforms position India’s 70% under-35 demographic as a global competitive edge.
