Skill India: Expansion of Training and Digital Skilling Ecosystem

Key facts

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) reported that Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) increased from 9,776 in 2014 to over 13,888.
• Access to skill development was widened through ITIs, National Skill Training Institutes, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, and Jan Shikshan Sansthans.
• Over 1.64 crore candidates were trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and more than 56.08 lakh apprentices were engaged since 2016.
• The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) have trained more than 25 lakh beneficiaries.
• The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has registered more than 1.5 crore candidates and offers over 1,000 courses in 23 languages.
• The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme recorded over 4.5 lakh enrolments through more than 50 artificial intelligence-related courses and qualifications.
• India's global ranking at WorldSkills competitions improved from 29th in 2015 to 13th in 2024.
• The MSDE announced 30 Skill India International Centres to support overseas employment opportunities for skilled workers.
• The ongoing reform agenda includes the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU), future skills programmes in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and integration with the National Education Policy 2020.