Skill India Mission Trains 3.1 Crore Candidates Across Schemes

Skill India Mission Progress Report

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provided a comprehensive update on the Skill India Mission's achievements through various schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The mission has trained a total of 3.1 crore candidates across all schemes: 1.65 crore under PMKVY (since inception to June 2026), 36.58 lakh under JSS (since 2018-19 to June 2026), 52.98 lakh under NAPS (since 2018-19 to June 2026), and 1.07 crore under CTS/ITI (2018 to 2025).

Placement and Employment Outcomes

Under the first three versions of PMKVY (1.0 to 3.0) implemented from 2015-16 to 2021-22, out of 56.89 lakh certified candidates under Short-Term Training, 24.3 lakh candidates were reported placed, achieving a placement rate of 42.8%. State-wise placement data shows Uttar Pradesh led with 3.39 lakh placements, followed by Madhya Pradesh (2.22 lakh) and Rajasthan (1.86 lakh). Under PMKVY 4.0, the focus shifted to empowering candidates to choose varied career paths with industry-relevant skill courses including On-the-Job Training.

Third-Party Impact Assessments

Independent evaluations conducted by Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management in 2025 revealed significant outcomes. For PMKVY 4.0, the combined share of employed and self-employed Short-Term Training candidates increased from 26.6% prior to training to 45.4% after training, reflecting an 18.8 percentage point increase. Additionally, 41.4% of STT candidates and 48.9% of Recognition of Prior Learning candidates reported increased income post-training.

The JSS scheme evaluation showed remarkable success with 33.94 lakh individuals enrolled, 32 lakh trained, and 31.52 lakh certified (99% success rate). Women constituted 82% of participants, while 73% belonged to marginalized sections including SC/ST (36%) and OBC (37%). The livelihood impact was significant with 90% of alumni utilizing acquired skills for income generation and 82% becoming economically engaged within six months of training.

For the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PMNAPS-2) from 2022-23 to 2025-26, the scheme engaged 34.69 lakh apprentices against a cumulative target of 46 lakh, achieving approximately 75% of target. The institutionalization of Direct Benefit Transfer improved financial transparency and predictability.

Emerging Sectors and Industry Partnerships

MSDE has introduced job roles in emerging sectors including Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Drone Technology, Mechatronics, and Internet of Things under PMKVY and CTS schemes. The Directorate General of Training has signed MoUs with global tech leaders including IBM, Microsoft, Autodesk, AWS, and Shell to provide technical and professional skills training in modern technologies. The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme offers structured AI skill development for students and educators.

Two Indian Institute of Skills have been established at Ahmedabad and Mumbai in Public Private Partnership mode, and 36 Sector Skill Councils led by industry leaders have been set up to identify sector-specific skill development needs. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training has approved 10,209 qualifications as per industry requirements, with 2,975 qualifications currently valid and active.

State-Wise Training Data

Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of candidates trained across all schemes with 25.5 lakh under CTS/ITI, 25.22 lakh under PMKVY, 6.58 lakh under JSS, and 4.10 lakh under NAPS. Maharashtra followed with 13.47 lakh apprentices under NAPS, 13.38 lakh under PMKVY, 9.45 lakh under CTS/ITI, and 2.93 lakh under JSS. Madhya Pradesh trained 12.34 lakh candidates under PMKVY, 5.82 lakh under CTS/ITI, 3.92 lakh under JSS, and 1.50 lakh under NAPS.

Special Initiatives

The PM Vishwakarma scheme launched in September 2023 provides holistic support including upskilling, toolkits, and collateral-free credit to artisans in 18 traditional trades. The Swavalambini programme launched in February 2025 in North Eastern States and Uttar Pradesh and Telangana has trained 1,200 female candidates under Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme and 602 candidates under Entrepreneurship Development Programme to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets among women.