The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has recently conducted the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) as part of the Skill India Mission. This event saw the participation of numerous companies from various sectors. They were able to engage with potential apprentices, select candidates on the spot, and provide them with opportunities to join their organization.
The Key Points of PMNAM
Under the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM), apprenticeship melas are held each month. Selected individuals receive a monthly stipend in line with government guidelines, enabling them to acquire new skills. PMNAM serves as a platform to increase participation from both establishments and students. It raises awareness among the youth about the range of opportunities available across participating companies.
The prime objective of this program is to motivate companies to recruit more apprentices while also aiding employers in finding the right talent and nurturing their potential through training and practical experience. The aim is to enhance apprenticeship opportunities in India to 10 lakhs by the end of 2022, and to 60 lakhs by 2026. The government’s mission is to train one million youths per year via apprenticeship training.
About the Skill India Mission
The Skill India Mission was launched on July 15, 2015, by the MSDE. The initiatives include the National Skill Development Mission, National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme, and the Skill Loan scheme. The PMKVY incentivizes skill training by offering financial rewards to candidates who successfully complete approved skill training programs. The Skill Loan scheme provides loans ranging from Rs 5,000-1.5 lakhs to youths aiming to attend skill development programs.
Various Initiatives for Skill Development
The SANKALP program, which focuses on district-level skilling ecosystems, and the STRIVE project, aimed at enhancing the performance of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), are significant skilling interventions. Nearly 40 skill development programs are implemented by 20 central ministries/departments, with the MSDE contributing about 55% of the skilling achieved. Since 2015, initiatives by all ministries have resulted in training nearly four crore people through various traditional skills programs.
Mandatory CSR Expenditure in Skilling
Following the implementation of mandatory CSR spending under the Companies Act, 2013, Indian corporations have invested over ₹100,000 crores in diverse social projects. Approximately ₹6,877 crores were spent on skilling and livelihood enhancement projects. The five states receiving the most funding were Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, and Gujarat.
TEJAS Initiative for Skilling
The TEJAS (Training for Emirates Jobs and Skills) initiative, a Skill India International Project, was launched at the Dubai Expo 2020. Its purpose is skilling, certification, and overseas employment of Indians, creating opportunities for the Indian workforce to meet skill and market requirements in the UAE.
UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the previous year’s preliminary examination, a question was asked about Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. The question focused on its role as the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, its training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy, and alignment of the competencies of the unregulated workforce to the National Skill Qualification Framework. In the mains examination, the challenge of utilizing India’s demographic dividend effectively was discussed.