Parliament Question: Employment and skill development in North East

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *206 ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 EMPLOYMENT AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH EAST *206. SHRI HARSH VARDHAN SHRINGLA: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) the initiatives undertaken to promote skill development and entrepreneurship in the North East region; (b) the sector specific training programmes introduced, details thereof; (c) the employment outcomes achieved; and (d) how targeted interventions are empowering youth and reducing migration? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *206 ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 REGARDING ‘EMPLOYMENT AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH EAST’ (a): 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 under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan 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 including the North Eastern States. The SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready, equipped with industry-relevant skills. Apart from the above schemes, some of the additional initiatives undertaken by the Ministry for the North Eastern States include: - (i) As per the Common Norms for Skill Development Schemes, over and above the Base Cost, an additional amount equal to 10% of the Base Cost is permitted for Skill Development programmes conducted in the North Eastern States. (ii) Under NAPS-2, for promotion of apprenticeship in North-Eastern Region (NER), an additional financial support of ₹1,500 per apprentice per month to eligible apprentices of NER, over and above the Government share of stipend, is provided. This additional support helps more youth take up apprenticeships, build stronger job skills, and gain practical, industry-focused training that prepares them for their chosen careers. (iii) Under Directorate General of Training (DGT), the Enhancing Skill Development Infrastructure (ESDI) scheme has been implemented in the North-Eastern States. The scheme envisages enhancing the existing infrastructure of skill development in North Eastern States. (iv) The Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Programme was launched for female students by the Ministry in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog as knowledge partner on 7th February,2025 in the selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of North Eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram. (v) MSDE, through National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), is implementing the skilling and entrepreneurship component of PM JANMAN – a scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs for upliftment of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), since March 2024. The scheme focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministries including MSDE. One of the key interventions of the Ministry is facilitating skill and entrepreneurship developments in Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs). As on 15.01.2026, a total of 38,386 beneficiaries has been trained under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), and a total of 489 VDVKs have been operationalized. (vi) Further, IIE has also established 30 Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) across the eight North Eastern States. These centres serve as local hubs for training students and faculty in business fundamentals. (b): Sector-specific programmes have been implemented in areas such as Apparel, Agriculture, Electronics & Hardware, Tourism & Hospitality, Beauty & Wellness, IT-ITeS, Logistics, Healthcare, Retail, Rubber, Construction and Textiles & Handlooms, among others. Special focus has been placed on regionally relevant sectors such as Handicrafts, Handlooms, Food Processing and Tourism to strengthen local value chains and support livelihood generation. Training is also being offered in new and technology-driven sectors, including Aerospace & Aviation, Telecom, Power, Green Jobs and Electronics, thereby enhancing employability and creating opportunities in both local and national labour markets.(c) : Amongst the schemes of MSDE, placements were tracked under the Short-Term Training component of PMKVY in the first three versions (PMVY1.0, PMKVY 2.0 and PMKVY 3.0) implemented from 2015- 16 to 2021-22. Under PMKVY 4.0, the focus is on empowering the trained candidates to choose their varied career path and are suitably oriented for the same. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) provides a wide range of courses for skill training and facilitates access to jobs and apprenticeship opportunities for the trained candidates available on SIDH portal. Further, Kaushal Melas and PM National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) have been organized to facilitate the placements opportunities to the certified candidates. (d): PMKVY aims to enhance the employability of youth within their local regions and thereby reduce distress migration. Under PMKVY 4.0, implementation is being decentralized with a focus on District Skill Committees (DSCs) and Skill Hub Institutions to increase last-mile reach, enhance local employability and reduce inter-state migration. The scheme adopts targeted measures, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for informal workers in remote and border areas, enabling them to obtain formal certification and improved livelihood opportunities. Special attention is accorded to Aspirational Districts, tribal belts and backward regions through focused mobilization, Special Projects and expanded training infrastructure. By promoting sector-specific skills aligned with local industries such as handicrafts, tourism, textiles and agro- based activities, these interventions support sustainable livelihoods and empower youth to pursue employment and entrepreneurial opportunities within the region. *****