The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has reported notable progress under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), with over 20 lakh candidates trained in the financial year 2024-25 alone. The flagship scheme, launched in 2015, aims to equip India’s youth with skill development through Short-Term Training (STT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiatives.
Over the last five financial years, a cumulative effort across States and Union Territories has contributed to a significant rise in skilled manpower. Uttar Pradesh led the training numbers in FY 2024-25, with more than 4.63 lakh individuals trained, followed by Rajasthan with 2.79 lakh and Madhya Pradesh with over 2.58 lakh trainees.
Placement tracking under PMKVY was actively carried out during its first three phases-PMKVY 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0-covering the period from 2015-16 to 2021-22. As per official data, the placement rate of candidates certified under the STT component during these phases stood at 43%. Under the current phase, PMKVY 4.0, the emphasis has shifted towards empowering candidates to make informed choices in their career paths with necessary orientation support.
Third-party evaluations have reaffirmed the scheme’s impact. A study by Sambodhi Research and Communications found that individuals trained and certified under PMKVY 2.0 earned 15 percent more, on average, than their counterparts who had not participated in the scheme. RPL-certified individuals reported a 19 percent higher monthly income when compared to those without certification.
Further, a study conducted by NITI Aayog in October 2020 revealed that 94 percent of employers surveyed expressed willingness to hire more PMKVY-trained candidates. Additionally, the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), in its impact evaluation, found that about 70.5 percent of surveyed trainees secured jobs in their desired skill sectors. Over half of the candidates trained under RPL also reported receiving or expecting better salaries than their untrained peers.
To enhance employment opportunities under PMKVY 4.0, the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has been launched. This integrated platform provides a unified digital space connecting the skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Job seekers can access career opportunities and apprenticeships, while employers can tap into a database of trained candidates. Rozgar Melas are also being organized across the country to facilitate direct engagement between employers and job aspirants.
This information was shared in a written reply by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, in the Rajya Sabha.