**Policy Summary: Skill India Mission - Credibility and Acceptance of Skill Certification**
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing the Skill India Mission (SIM) to provide skill, reskill, and upskill training through a network of skill development centers and institutes. Key schemes under SIM include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The mission aims to equip Indian youth with industry-relevant skills.
A core component of PMKVY is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which assesses and certifies individuals with informally acquired skills or on-the-job experience, aligning these skills with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). RPL involves orientation, bridge courses, and third-party assessments.
To ensure certification credibility and industry relevance, PMKVY employs a rigorous process: standardized assessments by third-party assessors and digital certificate issuance aligned with NSQF levels. Certificates feature QR codes and are issued via the Skill India Digital platform for real-time verification. Curriculum and assessments are developed in collaboration with Awarding Bodies and Industry bodies. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems are in place.
The Ministry collaborates with various stakeholders, including Central Ministries/Departments, State/UT Governments, Industry Associations, and employers, to promote PMKVY certification awareness and acceptance. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) facilitates credential verification, enhancing transparency and trust. Regular dialogues with industry associations, employer outreach programs, and Rozgar Melas are also conducted. Job roles are aligned with NSQF, and third-party assessments ensure industry confidence. Sectors with high employer demand are prioritized to strengthen labor market linkages.
SIDH serves as a centralized digital ecosystem for all government-backed skill certifications, enabling secure and real-time verification through unique IDs and QR codes. The platform is continuously updated and integrated with DigiLocker for accessibility, supporting transparent and efficient hiring.
Annexure provides State/UT-wise details of candidates trained under RPL component of PMKVY during last five years up to 2024-25:
| State/UT | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- |
| A & N Islands | 06 | 04 | 400 | 0 | 346 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 65,959 | 8,035 | 352 | 2,693 | 1,760 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 22,955 | 7,431 | 1,652 | 11 | 228 |
| Assam | 2,50,526| 23,366 | 795 | 7,737 | 10,399 |
| Bihar | 94,053 | 7,147 | 572 | 1,826 | 3,653 |
| Chandigarh | 1,885 | 439 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chhattisgarh | 13,224 | 3,889 | 47 | 64 | 1,486 |
| Delhi | 52,110 | 7,816 | 1,065 | 3,067 | 4,086 |
| Goa | 1,771 | 153 | 101 | 0 | 178 |
| Gujarat | 50,630 | 16,758 | 784 | 4,543 | 10,727 |
| Haryana | 71,572 | 8,014 | 648 | 3,597 | 8,858 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 13,775 | 3,219 | 352 | 752 | 1,558 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 71,743 | 5,600 | 3,103 | 3,661 | 19,169 |
| Jharkhand | 61,523 | 6,264 | 1,045 | 1,419 | 2,726 |
| Karnataka | 44,326 | 11,126 | 1,293 | 3,157 | 6,828 |
| Kerala | 28,585 | 2,674 | 1,185 | 734 | 389 |
| Ladakh | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 137 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 94,862 | 8,190 | 1,053 | 4,972 | 15,928 |
| Maharashtra | 2,08,206| 18,588 | 2,980 | 5,291 | 13,914 |
| Manipur | 17,658 | 1,832 | 524 | 70 | 392 |
| Meghalaya | 2,618 | 1,120 | 571 | 761 | 2,035 |
| Mizoram | 1,705 | 1,621 | 171 | 344 | 1,018 |
| Nagaland | 3,934 | 1,528 | 1,958 | 217 | 1,757 |
| Odisha | 82,906 | 5,788 | 346 | 3,292 | 4,913 |
| Puducherry | 1,278 | 1,072 | 16 | 172 | 295 |
| Punjab | 27,483 | 6,776 | 224 | 865 | 7,395 |
| Rajasthan | 1,90,506| 14,762 | 756 | 2,883 | 13,529 |
| Sikkim | 226 | 175 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tamil Nadu | 1,05,690| 9,699 | 3,341 | 6,893 | 7,075 |
| Telangana | 35,083 | 4,306 | 425 | 2,814 | 4,530 |
| DNH & DD | 940 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tripura | 32,634 | 2,863 | 532 | 1,342 | 4,044 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 3,22,492| 23,865 | 3,264 | 11,439 | 39,346 |
| Uttarakhand | 19,000 | 3,276 | 249 | 3,168 | 3,917 |
| West Bengal | 79,934 | 6,838 | 868 | 3,603 | 4,801 |
| **Overall** | **20,71,838**| **2,24,236**| **30,672**| **81,387**| **1,97,417**|
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: The Indian government ministry responsible for skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Skill India Mission: A Government of India initiative (SIM) to train youth with industry-relevant skills.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A skill development scheme (PMKVY) under the Skill India Mission.
Jan Sikhshan Sansthan: A network of skill development centers (JSS) under various schemes.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme: A scheme (NAPS) for promoting apprenticeship training.
Craftsman Training Scheme: A scheme (CTS) implemented through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
National Skills Qualification Framework: A competency-based framework (NSQF) that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude.
Skill India Digital Hub: A centralized and robust digital ecosystem (SIDH) for skill certifications.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Credibility and Acceptance of Skill Certification
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 4:58PM by PIB Delhi
Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM) , the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill
development centres / institutes under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
(PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and
Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the
society across the country. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready, equipped with
industry relevant skills.
Government has implemented the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component under PMKVY to
assess and certify individuals who have acquired skills through informal means or on-the-job
experience. The aim is to align these skills with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
standards, thereby improving employability.
RPL ensures formal recognition of workforce capabilities without requiring formal education or long-
term training. It includes orientation, bridge courses, and assessments by third-party agencies.
State-wise and year-wise details of candidates trained under RPL component of PMKVY during last
five years up to 2024-25 are given at Annexure.
To ensure credibility and industry relevance of certifications, PMKVY follows a rigorous process
involving orientation, standardised assessments by third-party assessors, and digital certificate
issuance aligned with NSQF levels. Certificates are embedded with QR codes and issued via the
Skill India Digital platform, enabling real-time verification by employers.
The curriculum and assessments are developed in consultation with Awarding Bodies and Industry
bodies. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems are in place to assess
implementation quality. These steps collectively ensure that the certifications are trusted by
employers and meet industry-accepted standards.
The Ministry actively engages with other Central Ministries/Departments, State/UT Governments,
Industry Associations, and employers to increase awareness and acceptance of PMKVY
certifications. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) enables easy verification of candidates’ credentials,
enhancing transparency and trust. Additionally, regular dialogues with industry associations,
employer outreach programmes, and promotion through Rozgar Melas are organised.
NSQF alignment of job roles and third-party assessment ensures the industry’s confidence in
certified candidates. Emphasis is also placed on sectors with high employer demand, thus
strengthening labour market linkages.
A centralized and robust digital ecosystem exists through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). All skill
certifications under government schemes are recorded in SIDH, which enables secure and real-time
verification by employers. The certificates contain unique IDs and QR codes that can be accessed
and authenticated instantly. This system significantly enhances employer confidence and reduces
instances of fraudulent claims. The platform is continuously updated and integrated with DigiLocker
to provide long-term accessibility to candidates and recruiters alike, supporting transparent and
efficient hiring practices.
AnnexureState-wise and year-wise details of candidates trained under RPL component of PMKVY during last five
years up to 2024-25
State/UT 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
A & N Islands 06 04 400 0 346
Andhra Pradesh 65,959 8,035 352 2,693 1,760
Arunachal Pradesh 22,955 7,431 1,652 11 228
Assam 2,50,526 23,366 795 7,737 10,399
Bihar 94,053 7,147 572 1,826 3,653
Chandigarh 1,885 439 0 0 0
Chhattisgarh 13,224 3,889 47 64 1,486
Delhi 52,110 7,816 1,065 3,067 4,086
Goa 1,771 153 101 0 178
Gujarat 50,630 16,758 784 4,543 10,727
Haryana 71,572 8,014 648 3,597 8,858
Himachal Pradesh 13,775 3,219 352 752 1,558
Jammu & Kashmir 71,743 5,600 3,103 3,661 19,169
Jharkhand 61,523 6,264 1,045 1,419 2,726
Karnataka 44,326 11,126 1,293 3,157 6,828
Kerala 28,585 2,674 1,185 734 389
Ladakh 40 0 0 0 137
Madhya Pradesh 94,862 8,190 1,053 4,972 15,928
Maharashtra 2,08,206 18,588 2,980 5,291 13,914
Manipur 17,658 1,832 524 70 392
Meghalaya 2,618 1,120 571 761 2,035
Mizoram 1,705 1,621 171 344 1,018
Nagaland 3,934 1,528 1,958 217 1,757
Odisha 82,906 5,788 346 3,292 4,913
Puducherry 1,278 1,072 16 172 295
Punjab 27,483 6,776 224 865 7,395
Rajasthan 1,90,506 14,762 756 2,883 13,529
Sikkim 226 175 0 0 0
Tamil Nadu 1,05,690 9,699 3,341 6,893 7,075
Telangana 35,083 4,306 425 2,814 4,530
DNH & DD 940 2 0 0 0
Tripura 32,634 2,863 532 1,342 4,044
Uttar Pradesh 3,22,492 23,865 3,264 11,439 39,346
Uttarakhand 19,000 3,276 249 3,168 3,917
West Bengal 79,934 6,838 868 3,603 4,801
Overall 20,71,838 2,24,236 30,672 81,387 1,97,417This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today
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VV/SH
(Release ID: 2150230)