In 2015, the Indian government launched the largest Skill Certification Scheme known as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The objective was to provide vocational training and certification to Indian youth to improve their livelihood prospects and gain respect in society. PMVKY is a part of the larger Skill India Mission aiming to train over 40 crore people in diverse skills by 2022.
Implementing Agency and Significance
PMKVY is implemented by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) under the guidance of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It’s significant as it contributes towards enhancing skilled labour in the country, thereby increasing employability and productivity.
PMKVY 1.0: Launch and Key Components
PMKVY 1.0 was launched on 15th July 2015, World Youth Skills Day, focusing on encouraging and promoting skill development across the country. The scheme provided free short-duration skill training and incentivized this initiative by offering monetary rewards to youth upon skill certification. The key components included Short Term Training, Special Projects, Recognition of Prior Learning, and Kaushal & Rozgar Mela. In its initial year, approximately 19.85 lakh candidates were trained under this scheme.
PMKVY 2.0: Expansion and Implementation
Launched in 2016, PMKVY 2.0 expanded in terms of both sectors and geography and aligned with other government missions like Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat. The implementation was divided into two components – Centrally Sponsored Centrally Managed (CSCM) handled by NSDC and Centrally Sponsored State Managed (CSSM) implemented by State Governments through State Skill Development Missions. More than 1.2 Crore youth were trained under PMKVY 1.0 and PMKVY 2.0.
PMKVY 3.0: A Step Towards ‘Atmnanirbhar Bharat’
PMKVY 3.0 was launched in 717 districts across 28 states and eight union territories as a part of the country’s self-reliance mission, ‘Atmnanirbhar Bharat’. It was implemented in a more decentralized structure with District Skill Committees (DSCs) playing a key role in identifying skill gaps and assessing demand at the district level. The scheme aimed to train eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 and equipped them with new-age and Industry 4.0 job roles.
Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme Under PMKVY
‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL) is a component of PMKVY to evaluate a person’s existing skills, knowledge, and experience gained via formal or informal learning. This approach has threefold objectives – to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce to the standardized National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), to enhance employability, and to provide alternative routes to higher education.
Role of PMKVY in Vocational Education and Competition
The focus of PMKVY 3.0 is on bridging the demand-supply gap by promoting skill development, making it more trainee-centric. The scheme aims to identify job roles in demand locally and train the youth accordingly. It also fosters competition, giving increased allocation to states that perform better. The National Educational Policy 2020 supports this effort by emphasizing vocational training for holistic growth and increased employability.
Training Women under PMKVY
The Ministry of Education informed Lok Sabha that, during 2021-22, more than 3 Lakh women were trained under the PMKVY scheme. This initiative promotes gender equality and empowers women.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions on PMKVY
In recent years, PMKVY has been mentioned in questions for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It has mainly focused on understanding the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme’ and the objectives of PMKVY. The correct answer for the former focused on certifying skills acquired by construction workers through traditional channels. For the latter, the correct answer encapsulated imparting training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy, and aligning the competencies of the unregulated workforce to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
