**Executive Summary**
This report, dated December 7, 2025, details the impact of the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) initiative, a program designed to build AI awareness, foundational readiness, and educator capability. It highlights the number of students and teachers trained in AI-readiness courses in partnership with Microsoft, HCL Technologies, and NASSCOM. The report also includes the progress in drone-related job roles under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY4.0).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SOAR Initiative Overview:**
* The SOAR program aims to strengthen competencies like communication, critical thinking, digital literacy, and behavioral skills.
* It equips participants with the confidence and capabilities to perform effectively in technology-driven environments.
* Multiple courses have been launched in collaboration with industry partners like Microsoft, HCL Technologies, and NASSCOM.
* **SOAR Coursewise Details (as of Dec 7th, 2025):**
| Content Provider | Course Name | Enrolled | Certified |
| :---------------------- | :-------------------- | :------- | :-------- |
| Microsoft | SOAR - AI to Acquire | 6,359 | 780 |
| | SOAR - AI for Educators | 9,926 | 930 |
| | SOAR - AI to Aspire | 8,084 | 1310 |
| | SOAR - AI to be Aware | 28,154 | 3,567 |
| HCL Technologies Ltd | SOAR - AI to Aspire | 17,472 | 997 |
| | SOAR - AI to Acquire | 8,544 | 531 |
| | SOAR - AI for Educator | 7,544 | 571 |
| | SOAR - AI to be Aware | 31,564 | 2,778 |
| NASSCOM | SOAR - AI to Acquire | 3,207 | 147 |
| | SOAR - AI to be Aware | 8,196 | 441 |
| | SOAR - AI to Aspire | 3,195 | 98 |
| | SOAR - AI for Educator | 2,241 | 101 |
* **Drone-Related Training under PMKVY 4.0:**
| Job Role Name | Female | Male | Total |
| :-------------------------------------- | :----- | :----- | :----- |
| Drone Manufacturing and Assembly Technician | 2,576 | 5,532 | 8,108 |
| Drone Operator - Multi Rotor | 18 | 169 | 187 |
| Drone Service Technician | 7,229 | 7,337 | 14,566 |
| Kisan Drone Operator | 1,185 | 1,724 | 2,909 |
* **Government Review and Evaluation:**
* The Government undertakes periodic reviews of AI and drone-related skilling initiatives under the Skill India Mission.
* Evaluations consider enrollment, certification, placement, self-employment, and employer feedback.
* The effectiveness of broader skill development schemes is also evaluated through MIS-based monitoring, third-party assessments and beneficiary feedback
**Impact Analysis**
**Trainees (Students and Teachers)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced AI skills and readiness for technology-driven work environments, potentially leading to career advancement and increased income.
* **Action Required:** Active participation in SOAR courses and drone-related training programs.
**Industry Partners (Microsoft, HCL Technologies, NASSCOM)**
* **Impact:** Increased engagement in skill development initiatives, contributing to a skilled workforce that meets industry demands.
* **Action Required:** Continued collaboration with the Ministry to deliver AI-readiness courses.
**Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)**
* **Impact:** Progress toward achieving skilling goals and contributing to economic development.
* **Action Required:** Continued monitoring, review, and refinement of SOAR and drone-related programs.
**Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
* **Impact:** Increase farmer income, provide livelihood, and improve efficiency through drones for agriculture.
* **Action Required:** Continued empowerment of SHGs as drone service providers, and drone training for citizens.
Key Entities Referenced
Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR): A structured skill development initiative designed to build personal, professional and workplace readiness among learners, focusing on AI awareness and foundational readiness.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY4.0): A skill development scheme under which training in drone-related job roles is conducted.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: The central ministry overseeing the SOAR initiative and skill development programs.
Namo Drone Didi: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to promote advance technology in agriculture.
NASSCOM: Industry partner collaborating on the SOAR initiative.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Impact of Soar Initiative
प्रव तथ: 15 DEC 2025 4:45PM by PIB Delhi
The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme is a structured skill development initiative designed to
build personal, professional and workplace readiness among learners. It strengthens essential
competencies such as communication, critical thinking, digital literacy and behavioural skills through
curated modules, guided learning and practical engagement. The programme equips participants with the
confidence and capabilities needed to perform effectively in technology-driven work environments and
supports their progression across diverse career pathways. Under the SOAR initiative, multiple courses
have been launched in collaboration with leading industry partners such as Microsoft, HCL Technologies
and NASSCOM to build AI awareness, foundational readiness and educator capability.
Under the SOAR initiative, AI-readiness courses are being delivered in partnership with Microsoft, HCL
Technologies and NASSCOM to equip students and educators with foundational and applied AI skills.
The total number of students and teachers trained under the said scheme so far;
SOAR Coursewise details as on 7th Dec 2025
Content Provider Course Name Enrolled Certified
Microsoft SOAR - AI to Acquire 6,359 780
SOAR - AI for Educators 9,926 930
SOAR - AI to Aspire 8,084 1310
SOAR - AI to be Aware 28,154 3,567
HCL Technologies Ltd SOAR - AI to Aspire 17,472 997
SOAR - AI to Acquire 8,544 531
SOAR - AI for Educator 7,544 571
SOAR - AI to be Aware 31,564 2,778NASSCOM SOAR - AI to Acquire 3,207 147
SOAR - AI to be Aware 8,196 441
SOAR - AI to Aspire 3,195 98
SOAR – AI for Educator 2,241 101
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implements ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme with an
objective to promote advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield &
reduced cost of operation and to empower SHGs as drone service providers for increasing their income
and providing livelihood support to them.
Further, this Ministry also conduct training in drone-related job roles under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY4.0). The progress made in the drone-related job roles under PMKVY 4.0, including
the number of women trained in drone operations, is as follows:
Job Role Name No. of candidates Trained/oriented
Total
Female Male
Drone Manufacturing and Assembly Technician 2,576 5,532 8,108
Drone Operator - Multi Rotor 18 169 187
Drone Service Technician 7,229 7,337 14,566
Kisan Drone Operator 1,185 1,724 2,909
The Government undertakes periodic reviews of AI and drone-related skilling initiatives under the Skill
India Mission, assessing enrolment, certification, placement, self-employment outcomes and employer
feedback to gauge their effectiveness in strengthening employability and future skills. These reviews
support continuous curriculum updates, industry collaboration and improvements in implementation
modalities, ensuring that SOAR and drone-related programmes remain aligned with evolving technology
trends and labour-market requirements. The effectiveness of broader skill development schemes is also
evaluated through MIS-based monitoring, third-party assessments and beneficiary feedback. The Impact
Evaluation of PMKVY 2.0 reported a measurable rise in employment for Short-Term Training candidates
—including a nine-percentage-point increase—higher monthly incomes and strong satisfaction with
training quality. Under Recognition of Prior Learning, 78% of beneficiaries continued working in their
certified trade and reported an average 25% increase in income. These findings guide ongoing refinements
in the design and delivery of skill development programmes.This 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 Lok Sabha today.
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SH
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