**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is actively enhancing the employability of Indian youth, particularly women, through skill development initiatives under the Skill India Mission (SIM). These initiatives include schemes like PMKVY, JSS, NAPS, and CTS through ITIs. The government is implementing special provisions and prioritizes women in training programs, with increased female participation observed in apprenticeship programs.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Skill India Mission (SIM):**
* Delivers skill, reskill, and upskill training through a network of skill development centers.
* Aims to equip Indian youth with industry-relevant skills for the future.
* **Women-Focused Provisions:**
* Special provisions for conveyance, boarding/lodging expenditure, and enhanced post-placement support.
* PMKVY 4.0 prioritizes projects with women as primary beneficiaries.
* Training programs in sectors like Electronics, Retail, Healthcare, Beauty & Wellness, Handicrafts, and Apparel are structured to attract higher female participation.
* Skill Hubs and Special Projects actively encourage women's enrolment.
* Projects align with local skill demands, enabling rural women's participation.
* **National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS):**
* The introduction of trades in the services sector has improved women's participation in apprenticeship.
* Women apprentices increased from 22.79% in 2024-25 to 25.80% in 2025-26.
* **Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme:**
* Focuses on women and vulnerable sections, with women constituting over 80% of beneficiaries.
* **Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs):**
* 19 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) and over 300 ITIs are exclusively for women.
* 30% reservation of seats for women candidates in all ITIs (Govt./Private), filled based on the general reservation policy of each State/UT.
* **Collaborative Initiatives:**
* NAVYA: A joint initiative by MSDE and MoWCD, providing vocational training to adolescent girls (16-18 years, minimum 10th qualification) in non-traditional job roles.
* Swavalambini: A Women Entrepreneurship Programme launched in February 2025 by MSDE and NITI Aayog in select North Eastern States, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana, aiming to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among female students. Implemented by NIESBUD, Noida and IIE, Guwahati.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Women:**
* *Impact:* Increased access to skill development and training programs, leading to improved employability and competitiveness in various industries, including traditionally male-dominated sectors.
* *Action Required:* Participate in available skill development programs, leverage special provisions for support, and explore entrepreneurship opportunities through initiatives like Swavalambini.
* **Youth of India:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced skills and employability through participation in various skill development schemes under the Skill India Mission.
* *Action Required:* Engage in available skill development programs and leverage available resources to acquire industry-relevant skills.
* **Training Institutes (ITIs, NSTIs, Skill Development Centers):**
* *Impact:* Increased focus on women's participation, requiring tailored training programs and support systems to attract and retain female trainees.
* *Action Required:* Implement strategies to encourage women's enrolment, ensure gender-inclusive training environments, and align programs with local skill demands.
* **Government (MSDE, MoWCD, NITI Aayog):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and monitoring skill development programs, ensuring effective resource allocation, and achieving targets for women's participation.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and refine skill development programs, collaborate with stakeholders, and assess the impact of initiatives on women's employability and entrepreneurship.
Key Entities Referenced
Skill India Mission: A Government of India initiative to improve employability through skill development.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: The Indian government ministry responsible for skill development and entrepreneurship.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A skill development scheme under the Skill India Mission.
Jan Sikhshan Sansthan: A network of skill development centres under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme: A scheme to promote apprenticeship training.
Craftsman Training Scheme: A scheme providing vocational training through Industrial Training Institutes.
NAVYA - Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls: A joint initiative by MSDE and MoWCD aimed at equipping adolescent girls with vocational training.
Swavalambini - Women Entrepreneurship Programme: A Women Entrepreneurship Programme launched by MSDE in collaboration with NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 76
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
IMPROVED ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO EMPOWER WOMEN
76. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government concurs with the view that improved access to education
and training programmes would empower women with the skills and knowledge necessary
to compete in traditionally male-dominated industries;
(b) if so, the details of the initiatives taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in
this regard; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (c): The Government of India is taking proactive steps to improve employability of the
youth of the nation, including women, through skill development. Under the 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 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 including women, across the country. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get
future ready and equipped with industry relevant skills.
To encourage participation of women in skill development programs, special provisions have
been made for meeting expenditure on conveyance and boarding & lodging as well as
enhanced post placement support. Further, PMKVY 4.0 prioritizes and provides special focus
to projects that emphasize women as primary beneficiaries. Training programs in sectors like
Electronics, Retail, Healthcare, Beauty & Wellness, Handicrafts and Apparel are structured to
attract higher participation from women. Skill Hubs and Special Projects actively encourage
women's enrolment. Projects are designed to align with local skill demands, creating
opportunities for rural women to participate and benefit from skill development schemes. This
inclusive approach ensures significant representation and benefit for women in skill training
programs across the country. Also, in NAPS Scheme, the introduction of trades in servicessector (Optional Trade) has led to the significant improvement in the women participation in
apprenticeship. The percentage of women apprentices has observed an increase from
22.79% in 2024-25 to 25.80% in 2025-26. Under JSS Scheme; the focus is being given to
women and other vulnerable sections. Women constitute more than 80% of beneficiaries
under JSS. Also, there are 19 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) and more than 300 ITIs
exclusively for women. Government of India approved 30% reservation of seats for women
candidates in all ITIs (Govt. & Private) in all courses and these seats could be filled based on
the general reservation policy of each respective State/UTs.
MSDE in collaboration with MoWCD has launched a joint initiative named NAVYA –
Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls. NAVYA is a
pilot initiative aimed at equipping adolescent girls aged 16-18 years with a minimum
qualification of class 10, with vocational training mainly in non traditional job-roles. Further,
MSDE in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog, launched
the Swavalambini - a Women Entrepreneurship Programme in February 2025 in the North
Eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and also in Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.
The programme aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among female students through
Entrepreneurship Awareness Training (EAP) and Entrepreneurship Development
Programme (EDP). National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Development (NIESBUD), Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati are
the implementing agencies for the program.
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