•
13,888+
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) operational across India
•
56.08
lakh+ apprentices engaged since 2016
•
1.64
crore+ youth trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
•
1.5
crore+ candidates registered on Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)
•
30
Skill India International Centres announced to support global workforce
mobility
New Delhi : The Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), under the leadership of Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon'ble
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India,
marks twelve years of Skills, Scale and Transformation, highlighting the growth
of one of the world's largest skilling ecosystems and its contribution to
India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
Over the past twelve years, the Ministry has built a
comprehensive skilling ecosystem that integrates vocational education,
industry-led training, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship development, digital
public infrastructure and international workforce mobility into a unified
national framework. Through sustained reforms, institutional strengthening and
deep collaboration with industry, academia and state governments, Skill India
has evolved into one of the world's largest and most diverse skilling ecosystems.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent
Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for
Education, Government of India, said, "The journey of the last twelve years reflects
India's growing recognition that skills are among the most powerful enablers of
opportunity, productivity and economic transformation. The Ministry has worked
to create an ecosystem where skills are viewed as an as an integral part of
learning, employability and lifelong growth, alongside formal education. As
technologies reshape industries and the nature of work continues to evolve, our
focus is on preparing India's youth not only for existing opportunities, but
also for jobs and enterprises that will emerge in the years ahead. Through
stronger industry partnerships, digital innovation, entrepreneurship support
and global mobility pathways, we are building a workforce that is confident,
competitive and ready to contribute to India's development journey."
The Ministry's impact is visible across every stage of the
skilling lifecycle. India's vocational training infrastructure has expanded
significantly, with the number of Industrial Training Institutes growing from
9,776 in 2014 to more than 13,888 today. Together with National Skill Training
Institutes, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras and Jan Shikshan Sansthans, these
institutions have expanded access to quality skill development opportunities
across the country. The Ministry has also established three Indian
Institutes of Skills (IIS) in Gandhinagar, Mumbai and Kanpur, creating
state-of-the-art centres of excellence to deliver industry-aligned,
future-ready training.
Apprenticeship has emerged as one of the strongest bridges
between education and employment. More than 56.08 lakh apprentices have been
engaged since 2016, supported by reforms that have improved participation from
both industry and youth while strengthening on-the-job learning opportunities.
The Ministry has also driven large-scale short-term skilling
interventions through flagship programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojana, under which more than 1.64 crore candidates have been trained.
Simultaneously, entrepreneurship development initiatives led through the
National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development
(NIESBUD) and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) have trained over 25
lakh beneficiaries under Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs), creating
pathways for enterprise creation, self-employment and livelihood generation
across urban, rural and aspirational districts.
A defining feature of the Ministry's transformation journey
has been the creation of a digital-first skilling ecosystem. The Skill India
Digital Hub (SIDH) has emerged as an integrated digital public infrastructure
for skills, bringing together skilling, jobs, apprenticeships and
entrepreneurship opportunities on a single platform. Today, more than 1.5 crore
candidates are registered on SIDH, with over 1,000 courses available in 23
languages. Programmes such as SOAR (Skilling for AI
Readiness) have further accelerated AI awareness and
preparedness among learners and educators with 50+ AI Courses and
Qualifications across sectors, recording over 4.5 lakh
enrolments since launch across emerging technology domains.
India's excellence in skills has also been reflected on the global stage
through its performance at WorldSkills competitions. Team India has steadily
strengthened its standing among the leading nations, improving its global
ranking from 29th in 2015 to 13th in 2024. India's participation in IndiaSkills
and WorldSkills has evolved into a national movement for skill excellence,
inspiring youth to pursue world-class standards and showcase the capabilities
of Indian talent on international platforms.
Recognising India's growing role as a global talent partner,
the Ministry has also expanded its focus on international workforce mobility.
Through government-to-government partnerships, skill-based mobility agreements
and the establishment of Skill India International Centres, India is creating
trusted pathways for skilled professionals to access opportunities in global
labour markets.
The Ministry's reform agenda continues to evolve in response
to the changing world of work. Through initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri
Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU),
future skills programmes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and emerging
technologies, and stronger integration of skilling with education under the
National Education Policy 2020, the Ministry is building a workforce prepared
for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
As MSDE completes twelve years, its focus remains firmly on
strengthening quality, expanding access, deepening industry partnerships,
promoting entrepreneurship, accelerating apprenticeship adoption and
positioning India as a global hub for skilled talent. The achievements of the
past decade provide a strong foundation for the next phase of India's growth
story, powered by skills, innovation and human potential.