In any country, education and skills are essential for both societal progress and economic prosperity. India, whose population is among the youngest, with a median age of 28, has the potential to capitalise on its demographic dividend by developing a workforce capable of meeting industrial demands and possessing employable skills. NGO Working for Skill Development ensures high levels and excellent standards of talent enable nations to successfully negotiate the possibilities and difficulties found in both local and foreign labour markets. India has acknowledged the potential of its youthful labour force as well as the difficulties in skilling a country with such a large population. In the 2011–12 National Sample Survey Office (68th round) report on the Status of Education and Vocational Training in India, 2.2% of people aged 15–59 said they had completed formal vocational training, and 8.6% said they had taken part in non-formal training.
The National Policy for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (NSDE) was revised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2015 in response to this challenge. The policy also led to the introduction of the Skill India Mission, which consists of skilling initiatives from all Ministries and Departments. Through long- and short-term training, more than 20 Central Ministries/Departments are undertaking Skill Development Schemes/Programmes under the Skill India Mission to raise the skill levels of millions of people throughout India.
By bridging gaps, enhancing industry participation, creating a framework for quality assurance, using technology, and increasing apprenticeship possibilities, the National Policy for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship tackles issues related to skill development. It prioritises equity, focuses on underrepresented populations, and encourages women to start their own businesses and improve their skills. In the area of entrepreneurship, the policy develops the knowledge of prospective business owners, makes mentorship easier, encourages creativity, makes doing business easier, and supports social entrepreneurship.
Schemes/Initiatives Under the Skill India Mission
- The primary initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), is carried out by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and aims to provide youngsters across the country—including those living in rural areas—with training in skill development. The inclusion of skill training programmes inside education ecosystems is the main emphasis of the PMKVY 3.0 (2020–21) initiative, known as the Skill Hub Initiative. PMKVY 4.0 along with NGO working for skill development (2022–26) places a strong focus on industry relationships, on-the-job training, and matching course requirements with industry demands. Modern Industry 4.0 courses including coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, mechatronics, IoT, 3D printing, drones, and soft skills are also included in the curriculum. 14 million applicants had been successfully taught by PMKVY in 2640 training facilities, including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, as of October 2023.
- By selecting skills relevant to the local market, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), implemented through an NGO working for skill development, strives to give vocational training to school dropouts, neo-literates, and non-literates in rural areas. Since more than two-thirds of Indians live in rural regions, JSS works to provide vital skills training to help this population become more economically independent. The goal is to open up new opportunities for the people living in the area and to facilitate the expansion of local trades. In low-income rural and urban regions, women, SC, ST, OBC, and minorities are given priority. As of October 2023, there are 288 JSS facilities that have successfully taught 2.1 million applicants.
- By offering partial stipend support to apprentices hired under the Apprentice Act of 1961, building the capacity of the apprenticeship ecosystem, and supporting stakeholders in their advocacy efforts, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme-2 (NAPS-2) seeks to promote apprenticeship training across the nation. Basic training and on-the-job/practical training at an industry workplace are the two types of training. Around the nation, 42453 distinct firms employed apprentices.
- Long-term training is offered nationwide by Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS). The goal of the ITIs' wide range of vocational and skill training programmes, which span several economic sectors, is to enable young people to work for themselves and provide the industry with trained labour. Currently, a network of 15016 ITIs offers training programmes under the Craftsmen Training Scheme.
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employability
The government's programmes are aimed at equipping young people from varied backgrounds with skills and getting them ready for the job. As part of these initiatives, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship's National Skill Development Corporation organises countrywide Rozgar Melas to give young people without jobs access to relevant private sector employment prospects. In addition to addressing unemployment, this promotes growth in the industrial and private sectors concurrently.
Apart from internal initiatives, the MSDE launched 'Skill India International' (SII) and set up two facilities in Varanasi and Bhubaneswar. By satisfying the needs of international employers in nations like the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Australia, and others, and in line with the growing need for talented workers worldwide, these centres seek to promote global career mobility and offer meaningful employment. The significance of vocational education and the enhancement of instructors' abilities to improve students' employability and vocational skills at all levels is emphasised in the National Education Policy 2020.
Developed in partnership with Quest Alliance and unveiled by the Ministers of State for Education at 'Shikshak Parv 2022’ along with NGO working for skill development, the New Employability Skills curriculum seeks to inculcate a self-learning mentality, educate students with 21st-century skills, and get them ready for a post-pandemic employment market. The public will soon be able to access eLearning information via NSDC's modules, and the e-books are currently accessible on the eSkillIndia portal. The emphasis of the curriculum will be on broad adoption and effect, with integration occurring throughout the MSDE ecosystem.
Digital Skilling and Soft Skills
NGO working for skill development with the aim of providing all Indians with access to relevant opportunities, high-quality skill development, and assistance for entrepreneurship, the MSDE introduced a comprehensive digital platform called Skill India Digital (SID). With its industry-relevant courses, job opportunities, and assistance for prospective entrepreneurs, SID is revolutionising the skills, education, employment, and entrepreneurship environment in India. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Skill and related NSDCs, the National Educational Alliance for Technology (Skill India programmes), and AICTE are working together on a national level for the first time. More than 100 technology-related business and industrial companies have already joined this platform to offer upcoming technology certifications at no cost.
The Future Skills PRIME initiative, a partnership between NASSCOM and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) aimed at creating an ecosystem for reskilling and upskilling, is another significant development in the field of digital skilling. Ten new technologies are the focus of this collaborative effort: cloud computing, blockchain, IoT, 3D printing, AR/VR, cyber security, and artificial intelligence. The programme seeks to continually improve IT workers' abilities in accordance with their aptitude and ambitions. Alongside this, the government's recently developed Skill Hub site invites institutions and universities to join the Skill India network, therefore promoting accessibility to skill training across the country and extending the reach of industry-ready talents even further.
The need of soft skills in the modern workplace is addressed by Skill India, which facilitates communication between companies and workers and helps educational institutions match their curricula to industry standards. In the modern workplace, soft skills are crucial for overall success as they support technical competence. With an emphasis on a broad skill set for increased employability, Skill India offers comprehensive training programmes that cover the development of both soft and technical abilities. Technical and soft skill integration is given priority via programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), industry-specific training provided by Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), and apprenticeship schemes. The significance of having a diverse skill set for those entering the workforce or pursuing entrepreneurial endeavours is further highlighted by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and entrepreneurship development initiatives. The methodology used by Skill India guarantees that people possess the interpersonal and problem-solving abilities necessary for success in a variety of professional settings, in addition to their technical proficiency.
Conclusion
The government's goal with the Skill India Mission is to equip people with industry-relevant skills through a range of programmes and sub-schemes. The focus on soft skills recognises their importance in the dynamics of today's workplace, where they promote adaptation and successful communication. Through the integration of technical and soft skills development, Skill India along with Search NGO guarantees a comprehensive and marketable workforce, therefore bolstering India's economic expansion and promoting social progress.
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