Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres under schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). These programmes aim to equip the youth of India, including those in rural areas, with industry-relevant skills to prepare them for future opportunities.
MSDE collaborates extensively with private players for skill development programmes. Details of MoUs signed under PMKVY 4.0 and state-wise training statistics (till 30.06.2025) are available in Annexure-I on the Ministry’s website. Similarly, information about MoUs signed under the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) is available in Annexure-II.
The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under MSDE, has partnered with companies such as IBM India, Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe India, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN) under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to provide training in modern technologies. Over 25 lakh youth have benefited from these initiatives.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) acts as the national regulator for vocational education, setting standards and improving the skilling ecosystem. NCVET has recognised 61 private Awarding Bodies (ABs) and 68 private Assessment Agencies (AAs)—the full list is provided in Annexure-III.
To strengthen skilling capabilities, MSDE fosters international and domestic partnerships, bringing in best practices and addressing regional skill gaps. Key initiatives include:
-
International MoUs with 12 countries for aligning skill development with global requirements.
-
Partnership with Microsoft Global Services Centre (India) for the AI Careers for Women initiative in higher education.
-
Establishment of 30 Skill India International Centres to meet global workforce demands.
-
Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST) for ITI students, with 11 active MoUs (Annexure-IV).
-
Collaboration with Microsoft, HCL Tech, and NASSCOM (Skill Up) for the SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness programme.
-
Establishment of Indian Institutes of Skills (IIS) in Ahmedabad and Mumbai (PPP mode) for Industry 4.0-ready training.
-
CSR contributions from private companies and PSUs to the National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) via National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for various skill development projects.
This comprehensive approach ensures that India’s youth are prepared for both domestic and international employment opportunities, leveraging public-private collaboration and cutting-edge training programme.
