India’s Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister of State (I/C), Jayant Chaudhary, today launched a week-long commemoration of the Skill India Mission’s 10th anniversary, coinciding with World Youth Skills Day. The initiative has significantly boosted India’s human capital, empowering over 6 crore individuals with market-ready skills.
Chaudhary termed the decade ‘Kaushal ka Dashak,’ emphasizing the mission’s transformative impact on India’s workforce, both domestically and internationally. He highlighted the strategic consolidation of previously fragmented skilling efforts into a unified “whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” fostering efficiency and scale.
Key achievements include the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which has upskilled over 1.64 crore youth, alongside substantial reforms across more than 14,500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The Minister announced the impending National Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Policy, poised to revolutionize skilling, upskilling, and reskilling frameworks. He further detailed the Cabinet’s approval of a ₹60,000 crore ITI Revamp Scheme, including ₹10,000 crore in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions, underscoring a shift towards industry-driven curriculum and certification.
Strategic reforms also encompass the de-affiliation of 4.5 lakh vacant ITI seats and a proposed 36% increase in stipend support under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). A new pilot scheme for the North Eastern Region will provide an additional ₹1,500 per month for apprentices. The week-long celebrations will conclude with the ‘Bharat SkillNxt 2025’ event on July 22, featuring the launch of new initiatives, notably AI skilling programs for schoolchildren.
