Parliament Question: Employment Outcomes under PM VIKAS Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1672 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026 EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES UNDER PM VIKAS SCHEME 1672. SHRI KUNDURU RAGHUVEER Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state (a) the details of beneficiaries trained under PM VIKAS Scheme since its inception, State- wise; (b) the details of the number of beneficiaries who secured employment or established self employment after completion of training; (c) whether placement agencies are engaged to provide employment opportunities to trained candidates and if so, the details thereof; (d) the percentage of women beneficiaries under the said scheme; and (e) the measures taken to improve placement rates and long-term livelihood opportunities? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU) (a) The Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs aimed at socio-economic empowerment of minority communities through skill development, entrepreneurship and education. The scheme integrates five earlier schemes of the Ministry, namely Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. The key features of the PM VIKAS scheme include: a) Skill development and livelihood support for minority youth and artisans through market-oriented training. b) Preservation and promotion of traditional arts and crafts, including safeguarding of cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage (ICH). c) Entrepreneurship and leadership development, particularly among minority women. d) Education support through bridge programmes and open schooling for school dropouts. e) Convergence with other Government schemes and institutions to enhance employment opportunities and credit access. The scheme comprises the following components: i. Skilling and Training Component (including traditional and non-traditional skills). ii. Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Component. iii. Education Component for school dropouts through open schooling.iv. Infrastructure Development Component through convergence with other schemes such as PMJVK. Sr. Component Enrolled Trained Beneficiaries No. 1 Non- Traditional Skilling 64,306 17,511 2 Traditional Skilling 3,821 885 3 Education 12,682 12,028 Women Leadership & 4 1242 1,083 Entrepreneurship Total 82,051 31,507 (b) The PM VIKAS Scheme guidelines were approved in January 2025, and implementation commenced thereafter. The scheme is progressing as planned, with projects currently under implementation and training programmes being conducted across various components. Also placement, wage employment, and self-employment outcomes are expected to be captured after completion of the training programmes. The scheme incorporates clear provisions for promoting employment and entrepreneurship through structured implementation by Project Implementing Agencies in accordance with the approved guidelines. (c) As per the scheme guidelines, the responsibility for facilitating placement, wage employment, self-employment and apprenticeship opportunities rests with the respective Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). PIAs are required to leverage their industry linkages and employer networks to ensure placement of trained beneficiaries. Under the Non- Traditional Skilling component, PIAs are mandated to facilitate placement of at least 75% of trained candidates in employment, apprenticeship or self-employment opportunities, with at least 50% of such placements in the organized sector. (d) Under the PM VIKAS Scheme, specific provisions have been made to promote participation of women beneficiaries. As per the scheme guidelines, at least 33% of the total target is reserved for women beneficiaries under the Traditional Training and Non-Traditional Skilling components. Further, the Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Component is exclusively meant for women beneficiaries, and at least 50% of the total target is reserved for women beneficiaries under the Education component. As regards the actual percentage of women beneficiaries covered under the scheme, the projects allocated under PM VIKAS are currently under implementation and beneficiary enrolment is underway. As per current status, out of a total of 82,051 beneficiaries enrolled under the PM VIKAS Scheme, 52,200 are women beneficiaries, constituting 63.62% of the total enrolment. This reflects the Ministry's emphasis on enhancing the participation and socio-economic empowerment of women from minority communities under the scheme (e) The Government has incorporated several measures under the PM VIKAS Scheme to improve placement rates and promote sustainable livelihood opportunities for beneficiaries. These include: a) Mandating Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) to facilitate placement of at least 75% of candidates trained under NSQF-aligned Non-Traditional Skilling programmes, with at least 50% of such placements in the organized sector.b) Requiring PIAs to leverage industry linkages and employer networks for wage employment, apprenticeship and placement opportunities for trained candidates. c) Promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment under the Traditional Training component through facilitation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Artisan Producer Organizations (APOs), and individual/group enterprises, wherever required. d) Facilitating apprenticeship opportunities and industry exposure to improve employment prospects of trained youth. e) Ensuring real-time monitoring of scheme implementation through the dedicated PM VIKAS Portal, integrated with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), to strengthen oversight, transparency and outcome tracking. These measures are aimed at enhancing employability, promoting entrepreneurship and ensuring long-term socio-economic empowerment of beneficiaries belonging to minority communities. ****