Skill Mission Scheme: Objectives, Impact, Achievements

Skill Mission Scheme, officially known as the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) or often referred to as the Skill India Mission, is India's flagship program launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on July 15, 2015, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day. 

This initiative was launched with a vision to make India self-reliant and transform it into the 'skill capital' of the world by creating a highly skilled and productive workforce. The primary goal of the Skill Mission Scheme is to create convergence across sectors and states for all skill training activities, establishing an end-to-end implementation framework that aligns industry demand with the aspirations of the Indian youth.

Skill Mission Scheme (National Skill Development Mission – NSDM)

The national skill mission is the institutional framework established to rapidly implement and scale up skill development efforts across India in a 'Mission Mode'. It serves as an umbrella scheme encompassing a range of skill programs aimed at empowering young people with the technical and vocational training required to meet the demands of the job market. The mission's overarching target was to train over 40 crore (400 million) people in India in various skills by the year 2022.

This comprehensive effort addresses the significant skill gap in India, where a vast percentage of the workforce lacked formal skilling, by emphasising practical, industry-relevant training over mere qualifications. The mission strives to boost economic productivity, enhance employment rates, and contribute significantly to the country's socio-economic skill development and growth.

Core Objectives of Skill Mission Scheme

The overarching aim of the Skill Mission Scheme is to provide a comprehensive framework for life-long learning and sustainable livelihoods. Key objectives include:

• Creating an End-to-End Framework: Establishing a system that incorporates skilling into the school curriculum, provides opportunities for quality long and short-term training, and ensures career progression for trainees.

• Alignment with Industry Demand: Ensuring that training is outcome-focused, aligning the workforce's productivity with employer/industry demand and trainees' aspirations.

• Quality Assurance and Standardisation: Establishing and enforcing nationally and internationally acceptable standards for skill training across all implementing agencies, including Central Ministries, States, and private providers.

• Building Capacity in Unorganised Sectors: Providing pathways for re-skilling and up-skilling workers in critical unorganised sectors (like construction) to enable their transition into formal sector employment.

• Promoting International Mobility: Offering a passage for overseas employment through specific programs mapped to global job requirements and benchmarked to international standards.

• Supporting Disadvantaged Sections: Implementing targeted skill development activities and focused outreach programs for weaker and disadvantaged sections of society.

Institutional Framework of Skill Mission

To ensure the success of the national skill mission, the MSDE has established institutional mechanisms at three tiers, which are critical for governance and execution:

• Governing Council: This is the apex body, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, providing policy guidance and identifying Sub-Missions in high-priority areas.

• Steering Committee and Mission Directorate: These bodies are responsible for the day-to-day coordination and management of the Mission's operations.

• Key Implementing Bodies:

• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The nodal ministry responsible for coordinating all skill development efforts, bridging the skill demand-supply gap, and building vocational and technical training frameworks.

• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): The functional arm of the MSDE, established as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) company to catalyse the skill landscape. It focuses on training, capacity building, industry engagement, and driving the Sector Skill Councils.

• Directorate General of Training (DGT): Responsible for maintaining long-term skill training structures like Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), advising on training policies, and training instructors.

• Sector Skill Councils (SSCs): Independent, industry-led bodies that assist employers, set occupational standards, and align training programs with specific industry needs.

Key Schemes Under Vocational Training Scheme

Skill Mission Scheme operates through several targeted sub-schemes that deliver quality vocational training programs across the country. The most prominent schemes implemented by the MSDE include:

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):

• The flagship vocational training scheme that enables a large number of youth to take up industry-relevant skill training for a better livelihood.

• It provides training through Short-Term Training (STT) for school/college dropouts/unemployed and Up-skilling/Re-skilling through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component.

• Under PMKVY, assessment and training fees are fully subsidised by the Government. It is increasingly focusing on future-focused skills like AI, IoT, and Robotics.

• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS):

• This scheme promotes apprenticeship training by providing financial support to industrial establishments.

• It offers a seamless transition from education to work, ensuring apprentices gain real-world experience and receive a stipend.

• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS):

• A scheme focused on providing vocational skills to non-literate, neo-literate, and school-dropout individuals aged 15-45 years.

• It aims to improve the occupational skills and technical knowledge of the underprivileged population.

• Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS):

• This scheme delivers long-term vocational training programs through the network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country.

Seven Sub-Missions of Skill Mission Scheme

To achieve its comprehensive goals, the National Skill Development Mission initially consisted of seven sub-missions, each acting as a foundational building block:

1. Institutional Training: Focusing on reforms in areas like curriculum flexibility, pedagogy, equipment, and industry interface within existing institutions like ITIs.

2. Infrastructure: Leveraging existing public infrastructure and industry facilities to scale up training efforts.

3. Convergence: Promoting convergence and coordination between the skill development efforts of all Central Ministries, Departments, and States.

4. Trainers: Developing a network of quality instructors/trainers by establishing high-quality teacher training institutions.

5. Overseas Employment: Ensuring Indian youth are trained to the highest global standards for accessing employment opportunities abroad.

6. Sustainable Livelihoods: Focusing on building capacity for skill development in critical unorganised sectors and providing pathways for up-skilling.

7. Leveraging Public Infrastructure: Using public facilities for scaling up skilling and capacity building.

Impact and Achievements of Skill India Mission

The collective efforts under the Skill Mission Scheme have led to significant progress in the skill development landscape of India.

• Increase in Vocationally Trained Youth: The percentage of youth aged 15–29 who are vocationally trained has seen a notable increase.

• Extensive Training Coverage: Under the flagship PMKVY scheme, millions of candidates have been trained and certified since its inception.

• Growth in ITIs and Apprenticeships: The number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) has grown significantly, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has also engaged millions of apprentices.

• Digital Integration: Initiatives like the 'e-Skill' India portal and the Skill India Digital (SID) Hub serve as single-point enrollment and tracking platforms, facilitating the candidate training lifecycle and enabling skill seekers to pursue diverse career paths.

• Focus on Future Skills: The mission is actively promoting training in futuristic and new-age job roles related to Industry 4.0, AI/ML, Drone Technology, and other emerging technologies.

How to Avail Benefits of Skill Development Schemes?

Individuals interested in benefiting from the comprehensive skill development initiatives under the Skill Mission Scheme can follow these general steps:

1. Visit the Official Portals: The primary point of access for information and enrolment is the government's official portals, such as the Skill India Digital (SID) Hub, which facilitates a single-point enrollment and training lifecycle management.

2. Search for Relevant Schemes: Use portals like the government-provided myscheme.gov.in (as referenced) to find schemes under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, such as PMKVY, JSS, or NAPS.

3. Identify the Training Type: Determine if you require short-term training (STT) for market-relevant skills, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for prior experience certification, or long-term training through ITIs.

4. Find a Training Centre: Locate a PMKVY Training Centre (TC), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), or Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in your district or locality.

5. Enrolment and Counselling: Candidates can enrol through the digital platforms or by visiting a centre where they receive counselling to match their aspirations with suitable job roles.