The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) recently launched Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0, a program designed to empower India’s youth by providing more than 300 skill courses. This article explores the background, implementations, key components, outcomes, and future prospects of this initiative.
Background: Skill India Mission and PMKVY
The Indian Government launched the Skill India Mission in 2015, which aimed to train over 40 crore people across the country in different skills by 2022. The flagship scheme under this mission is the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Implemented under the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), PMKVY’s objective is to provide vocational training and certification to Indian youth for better employment opportunities and societal respect.
PMKVY 1.0: Launch, Aim, Key Components, Implementation, and Outcome
Launched on World Youth Skills Day (15th July 2015), PMKVY 1.0 is India’s largest Skill Certification Scheme. This version aimed to stimulate and promote skill development in the country by providing free short duration skill training and incentivizing it with monetary rewards for skill certification. The scheme included components such as Short Term Training, Special Projects, Recognition of Prior Learning, Kaushal & Rozgar Mela, amongst others. As a result of the initiative, 19.85 lakh candidates were trained in 2015-16.
PMKVY 2.0: Coverage, Budget, Implementation, and Outcome
PMKVY 2.0, spanning from 2016-2020, expanded both in sectoral and geographical terms, aligning closely with other government missions like Make in India and Digital India. With a budget of Rs. 12,000 Crore, it was implemented through two components – Centrally Sponsored Centrally Managed (CSCM), and Centrally Sponsored State Managed (CSSM). By the end of its tenure, the program had trained more than 1.2 Crore youth through a standardized skilling ecosystem.
PMKVY 3.0: Coverage, Implementation, and Features
Touted as a step towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, PMKVY 3.0 launched in 717 districts across 28 States/eight Union Territories. The newest version of the program is set to take a more decentralized approach, with critical responsibilities and support from State/UTs and Districts. District Skill Committees (DSCs) will play a key role in identifying skill gaps and assessing demand at the district level.
The new version plans to train eight lakh candidates during the 2020-2021 period with an outlay of Rs. 948.90 crores. PMKVY 3.0 aims to build a robust pool of skilled professionals through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), and non-PMKK training centers.
The focus is now on bridging the demand-supply gap by promoting skill development in areas related to new-age and Industry 4.0 job roles. It also aims to encourage vocational education earlier for youth and incentivize better-performing states with increased allocation.
PMKVY 3.0 aligns with the National Educational Policy 2020’s focus on vocational training for holistic growth and increased employability. It follows a bottom-up approach to training, identifying job roles in demand locally, and linking youth to these opportunities (Vocal for Local).
