**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's response to questions regarding India's position in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 and West Bengal's SDG Index. The report details India's performance across four indicators in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 and West Bengal’s score and rank in the SDG India Index. The report also outlines the strategic initiatives undertaken by the government to improve employability and skills, focusing on women.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **QS World Future Skills Index 2025:**
* The index assesses how prepared countries are to tackle the shifting demands of the global workforce.
* It uses four indicators: Future of Work, Skills Fit, Academic Readiness, and Economic Transformation.
* India's scores are as follows:
* Future of Work: 99.1 (second highest, ranking just behind the US)
* Skills Fit: 59.1
* Academic Readiness: 89.9
* Economic Transformation: 58.3
* **SDG India Index 2023-24 (West Bengal):**
* West Bengal scored 70 out of 100 in the composite Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Score.
* This is an increase of 8 points from 62 in the SDG India Index 2020-21.
* West Bengal moved from "Performer" to "Front Runner" category.
* The state secured 17th rank out of 28 states, retaining its rank from 2020-21.
* The 2023-24 index does not have indicators that capture numerical skills or the number of individuals seeking internships.
* The latest edition is available at: https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-07/SDG_India Index 2023-24.pdf
* **Government Initiatives for Skill Development and Employability:**
* The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through various schemes under the Skill India Mission (SIM).
* These schemes include 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).
* Efforts are made to encourage participation of rural women in skill development programs, including provisions for conveyance, boarding, lodging, and post-placement support.
* PMKVY 4.0 prioritizes women, and special projects are designed to align with local skill demands.
* The introduction of trades in the services sector under NAPS has improved women's participation in apprenticeship.
* Under JSS, focus is given to women and other vulnerable sections, with women constituting more than 80% of beneficiaries.
* There are 19 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and more than 300 ITIs exclusively for women.
* MSDE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched NAVYA to provide vocational training for young adolescent girls (16-18 years) with a minimum qualification of class 10, mainly in non-traditional job roles.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)**
* **Impact:** The ministry is responsible for implementing the Skill India Mission and ensuring the effective delivery of skill development programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to strengthen and expand skill development initiatives, with a focus on women and rural areas.
**Youth of India (Including Women)**
* **Impact:** The youth will benefit from improved employability and skills relevant to industry demands.
* **Action Required:** Engage in skill development programs to enhance career prospects and contribute to the Indian economy.
**States (Including West Bengal)**
* **Impact:** States are responsible for achieving Sustainable Development Goals and providing opportunities for their citizens.
* **Action Required:** Continue to improve SDG scores and rankings, and leverage government initiatives to enhance skill development and employability in their regions.
**Employers**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of well-aligned skill training, leading to a more skilled and capable workforce.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the skill development ecosystem to ensure training programs meet industry demands and provide opportunities for apprenticeships and employment.
Key Entities Referenced
QS World Future Skills Index: An index assessing countries' preparedness for the future workforce, considering digital transformation, AI, and sustainability.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The primary ministry responsible for skill development, re-skilling, and up-skilling initiatives in India.
Skill India Mission (SIM): A national mission under which the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill, and up-skill training.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A skill development scheme implemented by MSDE to provide training to Indian youth.
SDG India Index: Index for composite Sustainable Development Goals score.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1570
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
INDIA’S POSITION IN QS WORLD FUTURE SKILLS INDEX
1570 SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:
Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to
state:
(a) whether it is a fact that India ranks 25th in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 and
second in the “Future of Work” category, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether West Bengal shows strong growth by ranking high in employability (4th in 2022)
and being recognised as a “Front Runner” in the SDG Index 2023-24, with 91.38 per cent
numerical skills and the highest number of internship seekers in the country, if so, the details
thereof; and
(c) the strategic initiatives undertaken by the Government to strengthen States according to
their rankings and to enhance the female workforce therein?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a): The QS World Future Skills Index 2025 is designed to assess how prepared countries are
to tackle the shifting demands of the global workforce, particularly in the context of digital
transformation, AI, sustainability, and the broader economic changes impacting jobs. The Index
uses four indicators to measure a country’s preparedness to thrive in an increasingly skills-driven
global economy: -
Future of Work: The Future of Work indicator measures the readiness of a country’s job market
to recruit for the most in-demand skills of the future. India scored 99.1, Ranking just behind the
US in second place, India is one of the leading nations in contributing to the future of work.
Skills Fit: Skills Fit measures how well a country’s education systems align with employer
demands. India scored 59.1.
Academic Readiness: Academic Readiness measures how well a country is positioned to
deliver the skills necessary for future industries. India scored 89.9.
Economic Transformation: The Economic Transformation indicator measures how ready a
country’s economy is to leverage the next wave of skills-led industrial growth. India scored 58.3.
(b): West Bengal scored 70 out of 100 in the composite Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) Score in SDG India Index 2023-24, an 08 (Eight) point increase from 62 in SDG India Index
2020-21. It moved from "Performer' to 'Front Runner category. The state secured the 17th rank
out of 28 states in SDG India Index 2023-24, retaining its rank from the SDG India Index 2020-
21. Currently, the SDG India Index 2023-24 does not have any indicators that capture numericalskills or the number of individuals seeking internships. Four editions of the SDG India Index have
been released so far. The latest edition is available at
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-07/SDG_India_Index_2023-24.pdf
(c): The Government of India has taken proactive steps to improve the 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 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 women. SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready and equipped with
industry-relevant skills.
Further, to encourage participation of rural 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. PMKVY 4.0 prioritizes and provides special focus to
projects that emphasize women as primary beneficiaries. Special Projects under PMKVY 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. Under NAPS,
the introduction of trades in the services sector (Optional Trade) has led to a significant
improvement in women's participation in apprenticeship. Under JSS Scheme, 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 (NSTIs) and more than 300 ITIs
exclusively for women.
MSDE in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, 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.
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