Restructured Skill India Programme
Let us begin with a fundamental understanding.
India is a young nation, with over 65% of its population under the age of 35. This demographic dividend can either be a tremendous asset or a wasted opportunity—depending on whether our youth are skilled and employable. It is in this context that the Restructured Skill India Programme emerges as a strategic intervention by the Government of India.
Quick Overview
- Ministry in Charge: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
- Scheme Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% funded by the central government)
- Launch Year: 2022
- Current Tenure: Valid till the year 2025-26
Objectives
At its core, the programme seeks to:
- Establish a strong institutional mechanism to scale up skill development.
- Provide skill training to 1 crore youth annually, through both short-term and long-term formats.
So, this is not a standalone scheme, but a composite umbrella that integrates multiple skilling initiatives to ensure wide coverage, high quality, and market relevance.
Salient Features of the Programme
Let us now explore the key highlights that define the restructured programme:
🔹 Composite Nature
It combines three major schemes:
- PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0) – short-term skilling
- Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) – community-based learning for rural and disadvantaged groups
- Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS) – real-world, industry-led apprenticeship
🔹 Formal Certification and Recognition
- All certifications are mapped to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
- Integration with DigiLocker and the National Credit Framework (NCrF) ensures transparency, portability, and academic equivalence.
🔹 Inclusive and Flexible Learning
- Promotes community skilling, on-the-job training, and industry partnerships.
- Ensures skilling in multiple Indian languages, making it accessible to youth from every region.
Components of the Restructured Skill India Programme
1. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0
Launched in 2023, this the flagship short-term training programme under the initiative. Let us understand its features:
- NSQF-aligned, demand-driven training with:
- Short-Term Training (STT)
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – to certify existing informal skills
- Target Age Group: 15–59 years
- Future Skills Focus: Offers training in 400+ new-age domains like:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- 5G Technology
- Cybersecurity
- Green Hydrogen
- Drone Technology
- Skill Hubs: Established in reputed institutions like IITs, NITs, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, CIPET, etc.
🔸 International Mobility Initiatives
- India is preparing its youth for global job markets.
- Has signed Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) with countries like France, Germany, Israel, etc.
- 30 Skill India International Centres will support this vision.
🔸 Whole-of-Government Approach
- Skilling programmes are being executed in coordination with multiple ministries to ensure seamless policy convergence and ease of doing skilling.
2. Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS)
Launched in 1967, revamped under MSDE.
JSS serves as the community-centric pillar of India’s skill development structure.
🔹 Aim
- Enable self-employment and income generation in rural and semi-urban areas
- Promote skills that are locally relevant and culturally appropriate
🔹 Beneficiaries
- Non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts (up to Class 12)
- Age Group: 15–45 years
🔹 Implementation
- Run by NGOs, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860
- Funded 100% by the Central Government
- Managed by Board of Management approved by the Centre
🔹 Inclusive Focus
- Special priority to women, SC/STs, minorities, and backward communities
3. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) 2.0
This scheme, revamped in 2016 is a refined version of PM-NAPS, specifically focusing on strengthening the apprenticeship ecosystem in India.
🔹 Aim
- Promote apprenticeship training as per the Apprentices Act, 1961
- Provide partial stipend support
- Build capacity and create awareness among industries and stakeholders
🔹 Eligibility
- Minimum Age:
- General: 14 years
- 18 years for designated trades in hazardous industries (as per Section 3(a), Apprentices Act)
- Maximum Age: 35 years
🔹 Funding Support
- Government of India reimburses 25% of stipend, up to ₹1,500/month per apprentice
- Paid directly to the apprentice’s bank account via DBT
🔹 Exclusions
- The scheme does not cover apprentices in government departments and public sector undertakings (central/state), including public sector banks
Key Features of PMKVY 4.0 (Consolidated)
Let us now bring together the distinctive features of PMKVY 4.0:
| Feature | Explanation |
| Industry-oriented | Skills tailored to actual market demand |
| On-the-Job Training | Experiential learning with real employers |
| Flexible Learning | Blended model: online + offline |
| Micro-credentials | Small, stackable, NSQF-aligned courses |
| Inclusive Skilling | Regional languages, accessible to all |
| Quality Assurance | Standardized assessments and monitoring |
| Standardization | Uniform training across institutions |
| RTD Model | Recruit-Train-Deploy system via industry |
| Sectoral Gap Mapping | Helps identify which sectors need which skills |
🧠 In Essence…
The Restructured Skill India Programme is not just a scheme—it’s a national skilling ecosystem. It reflects a conscious effort to align education with employability, to internationalize Indian talent, and to ensure that no youth is left behind, whether they live in an urban metro or a remote village.
It is this kind of integrative policy approach that can truly transform India’s demographic potential into a demographic dividend.