Parliament Question: PMKVY Training and Employment Outcomes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 5808 ANSWERED ON – 30/03/2026 PMKVY TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES 5808. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: - (a) the total number of candidates trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana so far and number who have successfully completed the training and received certification; (b) the total funds allocated and disbursed under PMKVY in Tamil Nadu during the last three financial years; (c) the percentage of trainees from rural, marginalized and underprivileged communities along with the measures taken to ensure participation of women and weaker sections; (d) the sectors and skill categories covered under PMKVY and the number of trainees successfully placed in employment or self-employment after training; (e) the reasons for any shortfall in achieving training and placement targets along with the steps planned to improve effectiveness and outreach; (f) the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place to assess the impact of PMKVY on employment generation, skill development and financial independence of trainees; and (g) the initiatives taken to update curriculum, provide industry-relevant training and ensure alignment with emerging sectors and market demand? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), since inception till 31.12.2025, a total of 1.64 crore candidates have been trained out of which, 1.30 crore candidates have been certified. (b) The current version of the scheme, PMKVY 4.0, is a demand-driven scheme in which training is provided based on requirements projected by the State Skill Development Mission, industries, and other training providers. PMKVY 4.0 operates as a Central Sector Scheme, and therefore, there is no provision for state-wise fund allocation under it. However, during the last three financial years (2022–23 to 2024–25), a total of ₹120.21 crore has been disbursed to training providers who delivered skilling programs under PMKVY 4.0 in the state of Tamil Nadu. (c) The percentage of candidates trained under PMKVY in different categories such as women, SC, ST, OBC, and minorities, is given below: Category Trained / Oriented % Trained SC 21,94,765 13.4% ST 8,13,357 4.9% OBC 55,51,185 33.8% Women 74,43,779 45.3% Minority 20,02,013 12.2%PMKVY 4.0 places strong emphasis on enhancing inclusivity by ensuring that candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), women, PwDs, and other vulnerable groups can undertake skill training and gain access to wage and self-employment opportunities. To support these groups, boarding & lodging and transportation facilities are provided as per Common Norms. For non-residential training, conveyance / transportation costs are covered for women and PwDs. Additionally, ₹5,000 is provided for assistive devices, aids, and appliances for PwD candidates. All candidates are also covered under one-year accidental insurance for additional social protection. Further, to promote equitable access in underserved regions, an additional 10% of the base cost is permitted for skill development programmes conducted in Special Areas, namely the North Eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs. (d) Under PMKVY 4.0, skill development training is imparted through Short-Term Training (STT) and up-skilling and re-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The sectors covered under the Scheme are Aerospace and Aviation, Agriculture, Apparel, Automotive, Beauty and Wellness, BFSI, Capital Goods, Construction, Domestic Workers, Electronics, Food Processing, Furniture and Fittings, Gems and Jewellery, Green Jobs, Handicrafts and Carpet, Healthcare, Hydrocarbon, Iron and Steel, IT-ITeS, Leather, Life Sciences, Logistics, Management, Media and Entertainment, Mining, Plumbing, Power, Retail, Rubber, Sports, Telecom, Textiles and Handlooms, Tourism & Hospitality, etc. Under PMKVY, placements were tracked in the Short-Term Training (STT) component in the first three versions of the Scheme - PMKVY 1.0, PMKVY 2.0 and PMKVY 3.0, implemented from FY 2015-16 to FY 2021-22. Under PMKVY 4.0, the focus is to empower trained candidates to choose their varied career path, either self-employment or wage-employment, and they are suitably oriented for the same through industry-relevant skill courses that include On-the-Job Training (OJT). During the first three versions of PMKVY, around 43% candidates were reported placed, against the 56.89 lakh certified candidates under Short-Term Training (STT). (e) The shortfall in the number of trained candidates against the target set is due to implementation of the Scheme in phases. The Government adopts a collaborative and convergence-driven approach to enhance the effectiveness of PMKVY through active coordination with State Governments and private sector stakeholders. Under the scheme, States are encouraged to propose training targets based on local demand, supported by district-level skill gap studies to ensure relevance and efficiency. Additionally, the scheme engages private sector partners as Awarding Bodies for curriculum development, industry-aligned training, and assessment. Further, employers are encouraged to participate through apprenticeship programs, demand aggregation and on-the-job training (OJT) initiatives to strengthen industry linkage and improve placement outcomes. (f) Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems are in place to assess implementation quality. The impact and effectiveness of schemes for skill development are reviewed through third- party independent evaluation. An independent third-party impact evaluation of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0) has been conducted by the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM). The evaluation was conducted across 12 States of the country to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, outcomes and impact of PMKVY at the national and state levels based on beneficiary surveys, stakeholder consultations and analysis of scheme data. The report highlighted that PMKVY training has contributed to a measurable shift in employment outcomes for STT candidates. The combined share of employed and self-employed STT respondents increased from 26.6% prior to training to 45.4% after PMKVY training, reflecting an 18.8 percentage point increase. Income-related outcomes also show positive movement, with 41.4% of STT candidates and 48.9% of RPL candidates reporting an increase in income following training and certification.(g) Under PMKVY 4.0, various steps have been undertaken to introduce new-age skill courses in order to keep pace with the evolving industry demands and advent of new age technologies. Over 600 industry-aligned courses have been introduced across emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G technology, cybersecurity, green hydrogen, drone technology, and logistics, with the objective of preparing the workforce for Industry 4.0. Training is being imparted in future- ready job roles to meet the demands of emerging sectors including drones, AI, robotics, and mechatronics. The courses offered under PMKVY are designed by industry-led bodies to ensure relevance and responsiveness to the needs of these sectors. Further, District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) are formulated by District Skill Committees (DSCs) to assess skill gaps and map industry demand at the district level. This ensures that PMKVY training programs remain closely aligned with local employment opportunities and regional workforce requirements. Additionally, emerging areas like green energy, semiconductor, etc. have been prioritized in line with national missions and economic growth sectors. *****