The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provided a comprehensive assessment of its Skill India Mission initiatives, detailing candidate training data across four major schemes from 2019-20 to 2026-27 (as of 30.06.2026). The schemes include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Program Performance and Evaluations

Third-party evaluations conducted by Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM) revealed significant outcomes across schemes. PMKVY 4.0 training contributed to an 18.8 percentage point increase in employment outcomes, with the combined share of employed and self-employed Short Term Training (STT) candidates rising from 26.6% pre-training to 45.4% post-training. Income-related outcomes showed 41.4% of STT candidates and 48.9% of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) candidates reporting increased income after training and certification.

The JSS scheme evaluation demonstrated remarkable success with 33.94 lakh individuals enrolled, 32 lakh trained, and 31.52 lakh certified, achieving a 99% success rate. Women constituted 82% of participants, while 73% belonged to marginalized sections (SC/ST: 36%, OBC: 37%). The program resulted in 90% of alumni utilizing acquired skills for income generation, 82% becoming economically engaged within six months, and 60% of previously non-earning individuals starting to earn post-training. Beneficiaries recorded a four-fold increase in average monthly income.

NAPS achieved significant scale during the evaluation period (2022-23 to 2025-26, data up to 30th November 2025), engaging 34.69 lakh apprentices against a cumulative target of 46 lakh, representing approximately 75% achievement. The institutionalization of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) improved financial transparency and predictability.

State-wise Training Data

PMKVY Scheme (2019-20 to 2026-27)

The program trained candidates across all states/UTs, with Uttar Pradesh leading at 16.56 lakh candidates, followed by Maharashtra (9.61 lakh) and Rajasthan (9.08 lakh). Significant annual variations occurred, with Maharashtra training 6.37 lakh candidates in 2019-20 alone.

JSS Scheme (2019-20 to 2026-27)

Uttar Pradesh trained the highest number of candidates at 7.25 lakh, followed by Madhya Pradesh (4.23 lakh) and Bihar (2.57 lakh). The scheme showed consistent enrollment across years with particularly strong performance in 2022-23.

NAPS Scheme (2019-20 to 2026-27)

Maharashtra engaged the highest number of apprentices at 14.83 lakh, followed by Gujarat (5.47 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (5.4 lakh). The program showed steady growth year-over-year, with Maharashtra engaging 3.01 lakh apprentices in 2025-26 alone.

CTS Scheme (2019-20 to 2025-26)

Uttar Pradesh had the highest enrollment at 21.85 lakh candidates, followed by Rajasthan (7.78 lakh) and Bihar (7.68 lakh). Enrollment remained consistently strong across all years, with Uttar Pradesh enrolling 3.85 lakh candidates in 2025-26.

The government undertakes periodic reviews of skilling initiatives assessing enrolment, certification, placement, self-employment outcomes, and employer feedback. These reviews support continuous curriculum updates, industry collaboration, and implementation improvements to ensure alignment with evolving technology trends and labor-market requirements. Effectiveness is measured through MIS-based monitoring, third-party assessments, and beneficiary feedback.