**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. *138 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 9, 2026, concerning the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The response provides data on worker certification, steps to improve training quality, mechanisms to monitor training, financial budget allocation, and government collaborations for RPL certification. A Statement containing the answers to all 5 parts of the question is laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **RPL Certification Statistics (as of 31.12.2025)**
* Total workers certified under RPL component of PMKVY: 57,34,088
* Specific state-wise certifications:
* Andhra Pradesh: 1,29,370
* Bihar: 2,10,754
* Madhya Pradesh: 2,60,561
* Uttar Pradesh: 8,19,132
* **Improving Short-Term Training Quality**
* MSDE implemented a technology-driven, multi-layered monitoring system for transparent and effective PMKVY 4.0 implementation.
* Training is standardized through the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
* Leading companies designated as Awarding Bodies to develop industry-aligned job roles.
* PMKVY 4.0 introduces job roles based on market demand, particularly in emerging sectors.
* Emphasis on employability through On-the-Job Training (OJT) and digitized certification.
* **Monitoring and Auditing Training Programs**
* Real-time dashboard on Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) tracks training progress, dropouts, and other parameters.
* Corrective actions are implemented to reduce dropouts.
* Dropout reasons identified include examinations, seasonal employment, job offers, migration, and batch cancellations.
* Special provisions are introduced for women, persons with disabilities and candidates from special areas.
* **Financial Aspects of RPL Component**
* As of 31.12.2025, ₹1,026.16 crore has been disbursed under the RPL component of PMKVY.
* **Collaboration with Employers**
* Ministry promotes certification of skills for experienced but uncertified workers via the RPL component of PMKVY.
* Collaboration with employers, industries and business associations to strengthen skilling.
* Engagement with Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments to encourage the hiring of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) certified workers
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Workers**
* **Impact:** Workers have access to RPL certification, improving their employability and recognition of existing skills. The focus on OJT and new-age job roles will improve employability.
* **Action Required:** Workers should participate in RPL programs to gain certification.
**Stakeholder: Training Providers**
* **Impact:** Training providers are required to meet prescribed norms and participate in capacity building. Real-time monitoring through SIDH may require adjustments to training delivery.
* **Action Required:** Training Providers should adhere to the monitoring systems and make sure they meet prescribed norms
**Stakeholder: Employers**
* **Impact:** Employers are encouraged to hire NSQF certified workers and may need to adjust hiring practices.
* **Action Required:** Employers are requested to work with the Ministry to encourage the hiring of NSQF certified workers.
**Stakeholder: Government (MSDE)**
* **Impact:** The MSDE is responsible for implementing and monitoring the PMKVY scheme, as well as collaborating with stakeholders.
* **Action Required:** The MSDE is expected to maintain the monitoring systems.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A skill development scheme to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training and secure a better livelihood.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: The Indian government ministry responsible for the coordination of all skill development efforts across the country.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): A component of PMKVY that focuses on assessing and certifying the existing skills of individuals, providing them with a formal recognition of their competencies.
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF): A competency-based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills, and aptitude.
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH): A unified digital platform for course discovery, candidate onboarding, e-KYC, real-time tracking, and the onboarding of Training Providers and Centres.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *138
ANSWERED ON – 09.02.2026
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING COMPONENT OF PMKVY
*138. DR. D. PURANDESWARI:
SMT. SHAMBHAVI:
Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to
state:
(a) the total number of workers certified under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), particularly in Andhra Pradesh,
Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh;
(b) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to improve the quality and industry
relevance of Short-Term Training programmes offered by private training providers under
PMKVY;
(c) whether the Government has any mechanism to monitor and audit the dropout rate and
actual placements of candidates from short-term training courses across different sectors, if so,
the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor;
(d) the total financial budget sanctioned and the actual expenditure incurred on the RPL
component, and the strategy to increase its coverage in the unorganised sector; and
(e) whether the Government has collaborated with large sector employers to make RPL
certification mandatory for experienced but uncertified workers in specific industries such as
construction or retail and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *138 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 ASKED BY DR. D. PURANDESWARI AND
SMT. SHAMBHAVI REGARDING RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING COMPONENT OF
PMKVY
(a) As on 31.12.2025, a total of 57,34,088 workers have been certified under the Recognition
of Prior Learning (RPL) component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) across
the country. The number of such workers in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh is as under:
Sl. No. State Certified
i. Andhra Pradesh 1,29,370
ii. Bihar 2,10,754
iii. Madhya Pradesh 2,60,561
iv. Uttar Pradesh 8,19,132
(b) To improve the quality and industry relevance of Short-Term Training under PMKVY,
MSDE has implemented a technology-driven, multi-layered monitoring system to ensure
transparent and effective implementation of PMKVY 4.0. Training is standardized through the
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), aligning courses with industry needs and
national priorities. Leading companies such as HCL Technologies, IBM, Bajaj Finserv, and
Microsoft have been designated as Awarding Bodies to develop industry-aligned job roles.
PMKVY 4.0 introduces job roles based on market demand, particularly in emerging sectors like
Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, IoT, Semiconductors, Drone Technology, Solar Energy, and 3D
Printing, with over 600 new-age roles launched so far. The scheme emphasizes employability
through On-the-Job Training (OJT) and transparent, digitized certification using QR-coded
certificates.
The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) provides a unified digital platform for course discovery,
candidate onboarding, e-KYC, real-time tracking, and the onboarding of Training Providers and
Centres. Training is delivered through accredited centres meeting prescribed norms, supported
by capacity building initiatives such as Training of Trainers (ToT) and Training of Assessors (ToA)
to ensure a skilled national pool of trainers and assessors.
(c) A real-time dashboard on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has been developed to track
training progress, dropouts, and other key parameters of the scheme, enabling timely corrective
actions to reduce dropouts.
A third-party evaluation of PMKVY 4.0 conducted by the Arun Jaitley National Institute of
Financial Management (AJNIFM) in 2025 found that dropouts primarily occur due to academic
examinations, seasonal employment, early job offers, migration, and personal reasons. Dropout
data also includes batch cancellations by Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) due to
operational challenges, monitoring-related irregularities, oversubscription in certain job roles,
which prompted corrective action by the Ministry.
To improve retention, special provisions under the Common Norms have been introduced for
women, Persons with Disabilities, and candidates from special areas, including boarding and
lodging support, transport and conveyance allowances. In addition, a strong grievance redressal
and feedback mechanism has been established through helplines and digital platforms to
address trainee concerns related to infrastructure, trainer quality, and other issues.
(d) As on 31.12.2025, a total amount of ₹1,026.16 crore has been disbursed under the RPL
component of PMKVY.PMKVY has been designed as a demand-driven scheme to address skilling needs in both the
organised and unorganised sectors based on regional and sectoral labour market demand. To
increase RPL coverage in the unorganized sector, the Government is focusing on cluster-based
and employer-led RPL projects in sectors like construction, retail, logistics, textiles, tourism and
other informal trades where large numbers of experienced but uncertified workers are engaged.
(e) The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, through RPL component of
PMKVY Scheme, promotes certification of skills for experienced but uncertified workers across
sectors including construction, retail and others. The Ministry is actively collaborating with large
employers, industries, business associations, etc., to strengthen skilling and improve
employability outcome and certification under PMKVY.
Further, with a view to make skilling aspirational, the Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship is engaging with Central Ministries/ Departments and State Governments to
encourage the hiring of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) certified workers,
including through convergence with existing mechanisms such as the Building and Other
Construction Workers’ (BOCW) Welfare Fund, etc.
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