**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1525, answered on February 9, 2026, regarding the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) findings on the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). It addresses shortcomings identified by the CAG and outlines corrective measures taken by the government under PMKVY 4.0 to improve transparency, fund utilization, beneficiary data, and employment outcomes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **CAG Findings (prior to PMKVY 4.0):**
* CAG conducted a performance audit of PMKVY, covering initial phases up to 2022.
* Audit flagged deficiencies in legacy systems related to:
* Data validation
* Beneficiary details
* Assessor information
* Eligibility verification
* Monitoring processes.
* The CAG attributed these deficiencies largely to IT control limitations and decentralized implementation.
* **Corrective Measures under PMKVY 4.0:**
* Comprehensive measures undertaken include:
* Aadhaar-based e-KYC
* Face authentication and geo-tagged attendance
* QR-coded digital certificates
* Real-time dashboards on the Skill India Digital Hub
* Strengthened assessor and training centre accreditation through NCVET
* Independent monitoring via Kaushal Samiksha Kendra
* Revised monitoring guidelines with clear KPIs
* Robust penalty and recovery framework
* Disciplinary actions, including suspension, blacklisting, and fund recovery, were taken where non-compliance was found.
* **Strengthening Industry Linkage and Placement:**
* Courses designed by industry-led bodies to address emerging sector requirements.
* Training imparted in future-ready job roles, including Industry 4.0 related areas.
* Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) launched as a one-stop platform for skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
* On-Job-Training (OJT) is now an inherent component of PMKVY.
* Kaushal Mahotsavs organized to facilitate placements.
**Impact Analysis**
**Implementing Agencies (National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and State Skill Missions)**
* **Impact:** Increased accountability, stricter monitoring, and potential penalties for non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to revised monitoring guidelines, KPIs, and the penalty/recovery framework. Strengthen systems to improve transparency and beneficiary data.
**Trained Candidates**
* **Impact:** Improved access to job and apprenticeship opportunities through the Skill India Digital Hub and Kaushal Mahotsavs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Skill India Digital Hub platform to connect with potential employers and explore job/apprenticeship opportunities.
**Training Centers and Assessors**
* **Impact:** Stringent accreditation through NCVET, greater scrutiny on eligibility, and potential disciplinary actions for non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the new accreditation processes, ensure compliance with eligibility criteria, and improve quality of training.
**Potential Employers**
* **Impact:** Access to details of trained candidates through the Skill India Digital Hub.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Skill India Digital Hub platform to connect with and hire trained candidates.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A skill development scheme implemented by the Indian government.
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): The independent authority responsible for auditing government expenditures and programs.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: The central government ministry responsible for skill development initiatives.
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH): A one-stop platform that integrates skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): An implementing agency of the PMKVY scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1525
ANSWERED ON – 09/02/2026
CAG FINDINGS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PMKVY
1525. THIRU DAYANIDHI MARAN:
THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:
Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to
state: -
(a) whether the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has highlighted serious
shortcomings in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY),
including low placement outcomes, violation of eligibility norms, duplication of beneficiary
records, closure of training centres and weak monitoring mechanisms;
(b) if so, the details of the findings reported by the CAG, State-wise;
(c) whether large amounts of unspent funds and pending pay-outs to certified candidates
have been reported under PMKVY and if so, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has fixed any accountability on implementing agencies
including National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and State Skill Missions, if so, the
details thereof; and
(e) the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure
transparency, better fund utilisation, credible beneficiary data and improved employment
outcomes in the ongoing and future phases of the scheme?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e) The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) conducted a Performance Audit of
PMKVY covering its initial phases up to 2022 and flagged certain deficiencies in legacy
systems relating to data validation, beneficiary details, assessor information, eligibility
verification, and monitoring processes, largely attributable to limitations in IT controls and
decentralized implementation prevalent at that time.
The Government has undertaken comprehensive measures under PMKVY 4.0, including
Aadhaar-based e-KYC, face authentication and geo-tagged attendance, QR-coded digital
certificates, real-time dashboards on the Skill India Digital Hub, strengthened assessor and
training centre accreditation through NCVET, independent monitoring via Kaushal Samiksha
Kendra, revised monitoring guidelines with clear KPIs, and a robust penalty and recovery
framework.Disciplinary actions, including suspension, blacklisting, recovery of funds, and other stringent
measures, have been taken wherever non-compliance was established, thereby
institutionalising stronger accountability, verification, and oversight mechanisms under the
scheme.
The Government has taken various steps to strengthen industry linkage, and placement
outcomes under PMKVY 4.0. The courses under PMKVY are designed by industry-led bodies
addressing the requirement of emerging sectors. Training has been imparted in Future ready
job-roles addressing the requirement of Industry 4.0, emerging sectors like Drone, Artificial
Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Mechatronics, etc. Further, to enable the opportunities for
employments, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform has been launched as a one-stop
platform that integrates skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems to
provide a lifelong array of services targeting a wide range of stakeholders. Details of the
trained candidates are available on SIDH portal for connecting with potential employers.
Through Skill India Digital Hub, candidates can have access to jobs and apprenticeship
opportunities. Also, On-Job-Training (OJT) has been made an inherent component of the
PMKVY. Further, Kaushal Mahotsavs have been organized to facilitate the placements
opportunities to the certified candidate
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