Skills and Employment: Schemes, Training Support, Livelihood Options
Skills and employment schemes support training, apprenticeships, digital learning, and livelihood opportunities. Skills and employment initiatives cover PMKVY, NAPS, NCS, livelihood missions, rural and urban programs, entrepreneurship support, and skill training for youth, women, and SC/ST groups.
Muskan Verma17 Nov, 2025
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India is helping people get better jobs through training and support programs. These programs teach skills, provide work opportunities, and help people earn a living. The schemes are for young people, women, people in villages, city workers, and those who need extra support.
The main goal is to help people get ready for work. This includes learning new skills, starting businesses, doing internships, using digital tools, and getting certificates for skills they already have.
All these programs together make it easier for people to learn, find work, and improve their future.
Skills and Employment Overview
India’s approach integrates training, certification, apprenticeships, and employment support. It also includes digital learning, livelihood assistance, and pathways to self-employment. This overview gives a clear picture of how skills and employment work together.
| Skills and Employment Overview | |
| Aspect | Description |
| Skill Development | Covers vocational training schemes in India, digital skill training schemes, reskilling & upskilling schemes, women skill development schemes, and training for special groups. |
| Employment Support | Includes government employment schemes, rural employment schemes (MGNREGA), urban livelihood mission (NULM), internship programs, and employment exchange registration benefits. |
| Entrepreneurship Support | Includes startup & entrepreneurship training schemes, livelihood promotion schemes, and assistance for micro-enterprises. |
| Target Groups | Youth, women, SC/ST communities, rural households, urban workers, college/school dropouts, and individuals with prior learning or traditional skills. |
List of Skills and Employment Schemes
Below, we’ve mentioned the lists major schemes connected to skill development, livelihood generation, and employment. These schemes cover training, internships, certification, and entrepreneurship-related support.
| List of Skills and Employment Schemes | ||
| Scheme Name | Ministry / Authority | Key Focus |
| Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) – Short Term Training | Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship | Training for school/college dropouts and unemployed aged 15–45 at Training Centres. |
| PMKVY – Special Projects | Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship | Skill training for marginalized or vulnerable groups who may not meet general STT guidelines. |
| Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) | Ministry of MSME | Credit-linked support for micro-enterprises to create livelihood opportunities. |
| PM-DAKSH | Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment | Skill training for SCs, OBCs, EWS, DNTs, Safai Mitras, and Waste Pickers. |
| Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme | Ministry of Corporate Affairs | Internship opportunities for youth in leading companies for practical exposure. |
| Central Assistance for Displaced Families – PoK & Chhamb | Ministry of Home Affairs | Relief and rehabilitation support for displaced families through direct benefit assistance. |
| PMKVY – Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship | Certification for individuals with existing skills or prior work experience. |
| Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana | Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers | Support for opening Janaushadhi Kendras, helping entrepreneurs and improving medicine access. |
| Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) | Ministry of Electronics & IT | Digital literacy for rural households to improve digital access and learning. |
| Advanced Training in Handicrafts | Government of Puducherry | Training for artisans outside the state to enhance traditional craft skills. |
| Training in Coir – Development of Coir Scheme | Government of Puducherry | Six-month coir production training for rural households to promote local employment. |
| Porkizhi Assistance for Indigent Kalaimamani Artists | Government of Tamil Nadu | Financial assistance for Kalaimamani awardees in indigent situations. |
| Grant for Publication of Rare Books on Arts | Government of Tamil Nadu | Support for publishing rare books on traditional arts. |
| Kalai Ilamani Award – Artists Support | Government of Tamil Nadu | Financial assistance and recognition for eminent traditional artists. |
| Mukhyamantri Sports Development Scheme – Retired Person | Government of Tripura | Monthly remuneration for retired sportspersons to support livelihood. |
| Pension Benefits for Journalists | Government of Tripura | Pension support for retired journalists and photojournalists. |
| Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan – Internship Program | Ministry of Panchayati Raj | Internship opportunities for students and research scholars. |
| Skill Development Scheme (Construction Workers) | Puducherry Building and Other Construction Workers Board | Training support for construction workers enrolled with the board. |
| Scheme of Encouragement to Young Artists | Government of Tamil Nadu | Opportunities for young artists to perform and receive remuneration. |
| Multimedia Training for Differently Abled Persons | Government of Tamil Nadu | Multimedia training for persons with locomotor and hearing impairments. |
Benefits of Skills and Employment
Focusing on skills and jobs helps people grow personally and earn better. Training programs connect learning with work opportunities.
- Better Job Skills: Skill programs in India help people learn practical skills for jobs. Schemes like PMKVY, PM-DAKSH, and vocational training teach skills that employers need.
- Help for Young Job Seekers: Government programs guide young people who are unemployed. PM Rozgar Mela 2025 and the National Career Service (NCS) give support, internships, and job information.
- Learning Through Work: Apprenticeship schemes like NAPS and ITI training let people learn on the job. This gives hands-on experience in real workplaces.
- More Ways to Earn: Schemes like MGNREGA, NULM, and livelihood programs provide extra income opportunities. They help families earn money during tough times.
- Starting Your Own Business: Entrepreneurship programs and PMEGP help people start small businesses. These schemes create jobs and financial independence.
- Support for Everyone: Special programs for women, SC/ST communities, and vulnerable groups make sure everyone gets a chance to learn and work.
- Recognition of Existing Skills: PMKVY-RPL gives certification for skills people already have. This makes it easier to get jobs.
- Learning Digital Skills: Digital skill programs like PMGDISHA teach people to use computers and the internet. This helps with online work and digital payments.
- Support for Arts and Culture: Programs for artists and craftsmen help preserve traditional arts. They also give chances to perform or sell creative work.
- Easy Access to Job Help: Employment exchange benefits, NCS, and internships help people find jobs, understand market trends, and get career guidance.
India’s vision for skills and employment brings many schemes together so people can learn new skills and get better work opportunities. The Skill India mission details show that the country wants to give clear and organised training to people from different backgrounds. With government employment schemes, digital skill training schemes, and livelihood programmes, people can learn useful skills and move towards stable work.
Schemes like PMKVY, NAPS, PM-DAKSH, internship programmes, MGNREGA, and NULM support learning, training, and earning. These schemes help people improve their abilities, choose a better career path, and become part of India’s growing workforce.
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