The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provided a comprehensive update on India's skill development initiatives under the Skill India Mission, detailing training statistics across various schemes and emerging technologies. The data covers the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 and was presented by Minister Jayant Chaudhary in a Rajya Sabha reply.
Training Statistics Overview
MSDE delivered skill training through multiple schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsmen Training Scheme through Industrial Training Institutes (CTS/ITIs). Over the last five years, the total training numbers reached 35,58,909 candidates under PMKVY, 27,15,609 under JSS, 44,73,459 under NAPS, and 67,07,804 through CTS/ITIs, making ITIs the largest training channel.
State-wise Performance
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest training numbers across multiple schemes: 6,58,680 (PMKVY), 4,61,298 (JSS), 3,51,728 (NAPS), and 15,78,759 (CTS/ITIs). Maharashtra showed strong apprenticeship performance with 11,76,491 NAPS trainees and 6,09,589 ITI trainees. Other top performers included Bihar with 5,59,901 ITI trainees, Gujarat with 4,33,939 ITI trainees and 4,29,570 NAPS trainees, and Rajasthan with 4,83,608 ITI trainees. Smaller states and union territories like Lakshadweep (240 PMKVY, 5,177 JSS, 41 NAPS, 1,588 ITI) and A&N Islands (2,510 PMKVY, 8,097 JSS, 474 NAPS, 3,129 ITI) showed proportionally significant participation.
Emerging Technologies Training
For job roles pertaining to emerging technologies, Green Jobs training dominated with 5,18,058 candidates trained under PMKVY since inception, followed by 13,830 under NAPS (since 2018-19), 12,626 through ITIs (sessions 2018-2025), and 4,086 via JSS. Artificial Intelligence training reached 39,104 candidates through PMKVY, 3,222 via NAPS, and 893 through ITIs. Robotics training accounted for 17,259 ITI trainees, 5,208 NAPS trainees, and 1,898 PMKVY trainees. Semiconductor manufacturing trained 11,523 through PMKVY and 31 via ITIs, while Machine Learning trained 300 through PMKVY and 54 via NAPS. Cyber Security trained 663 through PMKVY, 2,012 via JSS, and 108 through NAPS.
Institutional Framework and Initiatives
MSDE established the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) as an overarching regulator that has approved 10,209 qualifications, with 2,975 currently valid and active and 7,234 archived. The Directorate General of Training (DGT) implemented Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training in collaboration with industries and signed MoUs with major tech companies including IBM, Microsoft, Autodesk, AWS, and Shell to provide technical skills training. Thirty-six Sector Skill Councils led by industry leaders have been established to identify sector-specific skill development needs and determine competency standards.
Digital and Infrastructure Development
The Ministry launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) as a unified platform integrating skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Two Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) have been established at Ahmedabad and Mumbai in Public Private Partnership mode. The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM SETU) scheme aims to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs (200 Hub ITIs and 800 Spoke ITIs) through industry-led Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) focusing on curriculum development, infrastructure enhancement, and placement facilitation. The scheme also augments capacity of five NSTIs in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana, including setting up sector-specific National Centres of Excellence.
Integration with Education Policy
In alignment with National Education Policy 2020, the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) developed with UGC and AICTE enables students to undertake apprenticeship training as part of their curriculum. The ministry regularly organizes Rozgar Melas and PM National Apprenticeship Melas to facilitate placements for certified candidates across the country.