Parliament Question: Rural Skill Development in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3524 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 RURAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN TAMIL NADU 3524. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) the major initiatives undertaken by the Government to expand the reach of skill development programmes in rural and aspirational areas of Tamil Nadu during the last three years and the current year; (b) the details of training centres established, candidates enrolled, trained, certified and placed under various said programmes in the said districts of Tamil Nadu during the said period, district- wise; (c) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to strengthen skill development infrastructure, digital training facilities and industry partnerships in the said areas to improve employment opportunities for youth; (d) whether any special initiatives have been launched to promote skill development among women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other disadvantaged groups in the said areas; and (e) the further steps proposed to be taken by the Government to enhance placement support, entrepreneurship and apprenticeship opportunities for youth in the said areas of Tamil Nadu? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (e) : Under the Government of India’s 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 / institutes 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 across the country including the rural and aspirational areas of Tamil Nadu. The SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready, equipped with industry-relevant skills. Amongst the schemes of MSDE, 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 FY2015-16 to FY 2021-22, wherein more than 56 lakh candidates were certified under Short Term Training (STT), out of which 24.38 lakhs were reported placed under the short-term training component of the scheme. Further, under PMKVY 4.0, the focus is to empower the trained candidates to choose their varied career paths, and they are suitably oriented for the same.The details of number of training centres established, candidates enrolled, trained and certified under various schemes of MSDE in the Tamil Nadu during the last three years and the current year, district-wise are at Annexure. PMKVY Scheme has a provision of Special Projects which are targeted towards ensuring coverage of Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes / Women beneficiaries and geographic areas such as Aspirational Districts, LWE, Tribal districts, etc. Special attention has been given to women, tribal communities, and other marginalized groups in rural areas to promote their participation in the skill development programs. In order to increase inclusivity, Boarding and Lodging (B&L) and transport facilities are provided to special groups (Women and PwD) and Special Areas, as defined in Common Norms, for training within and outside Special Areas. Conveyance facility is also permissible for special groups in case of non-residential training as per Common Norms. The JSS Scheme aims to provide skill training in a non-formal mode at the doorstep of beneficiaries through 100% financial assistance from the Government of India, special emphasis is placed on women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and individuals from rural and urban low-income communities. In the state of Tamil Nadu, more than 90% of the total beneficiaries belong to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other disadvantaged groups, with women constituting 86% of the beneficiaries. Livelihood cells have been created at each JSS, headed by the Programme Officer of the JSS and supported by other staff members. This cell forms linkages of the trained JSS beneficiaries, especially women beneficiaries, with the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) / Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) to promote their entrepreneurship and livelihood. Under NAPS Scheme, the introduction of trades in services sector (Optional Trade) has led to the significant improvement in 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. NAPS supports apprenticeship engagement through partial stipend assistance, capacity building of the apprenticeship ecosystem and stakeholder outreach. NAPS provides stipend support equivalent to 25% of the stipend paid by the establishment, subject to a maximum of ₹1,500 per month per apprentice, which is released directly into the bank account of the apprentice through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The scheme is open to all eligible youth, including tribal youth, and facilitates acquisition of industry-relevant skills and practical workplace experience through apprenticeship training. 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 through its autonomous institutions, i.e, National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati conducts Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) to promote entrepreneurship across the country. To strengthen skill development infrastructure, digital training facilities and industry partnerships and improve employment opportunities for youth, the following steps have been taken by the MSDE: i. National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been set up as an overarching regulator establishing regulations and standards to ensure quality in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space. ii. The Awarding Bodies recognized by NCVET are expected to develop the qualifications as per the industry demand and map them with the identified occupations as per the National Classification of Occupations, 2015 and obtain industry validations.iii. 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry leaders in the respective sectors, have been set up which identify the skill development needs of respective sectors as well as to determine skill competency standards. iv. Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the aegis of MSDE is implementing Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST) which are meant to provide training to ITI students in industrial environment as per their requirements. v. Under PMKVY, the new age/future skills job-roles have been specially aligned with Industry 4.0 requirements in areas like AI/ML, Robotics, Mechatronics, Drone Technology, etc. for upcoming market demand and industry requirements. vi. DGT has introduced new age /future skills courses under CTS to provide training in emerging areas such as 5G Network Technician, Artificial Intelligence Programming assistant, Cyber Security Assistant, Drone Technician etc. vii. DGT has signed MoU with IT Tech companies like IBM, CISCO, Microsoft, AWS etc. to ensure industry linkages for the institutes at the state and regional levels. These partnerships facilitate the provision of technical and professional skills training in modern technologies. viii. Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) established at Ahmedabad and Mumbai, in Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode, provide training to create a pool of industry-ready workforce for Industry, equipped with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training. ix. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 envisages greater integration of vocational education with mainstream education and promotes seamless mobility between academic and vocational pathways. In line with this vision, the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP), developed in collaboration with UGC and AICTE, enables students enrolled in degree and diploma programmes to undertake apprenticeship training as an integral part of their curriculum. The programme enhances employability, promotes outcome-based learning, strengthens industry-academia linkages and facilitates acquisition of industry-relevant skills. x. MSDE has launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) a unified platform that integrates skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems to provide a life-long array of services targeting a wide range of stakeholders. The details of the trained candidates are available on SIDH portal for connecting with potential employers. Through SIDH, candidates can have access to jobs and apprenticeship opportunities. xi. Kaushal Mahotsavs and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) are organised to facilitate the placements and apprenticeship opportunities to the certified candidates. xii. The Government has launched PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs), a centrally sponsored scheme with an investment of Rs.60,000 crore. The scheme envisages the upgradation of 1,000 Government ITIs across the country in a hub-and-spoke model comprising 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs. PM-SETU focuses on improving employability outcomes through industry-led governance, and indirectly supports self-employment and entrepreneurship by enabling learners (including early-stage enterprises and first-time entrepreneurs) to acquire industry-relevant skills, gain exposure to real work environments, and access career guidance, placement support, and self-employment support through strengthened institutional systems and industry linkages.Annexure ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3524 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING ‘RURAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN TAMIL NADU’ District-wise details of number of training centres, candidates enrolled, trained and certified in Tamil Nadu during the last three years and the current year (up to 30.06.2026) (i) PMKVY : No. of Training Total candidates Total candidates Total candidates Name of District Centres enrolled trained certified (STT + SP) Ariyalur 6 2,227 2,459 2,302 Chengalpattu 8 1,761 1,639 830 Chennai 36 7,131 7,251 3,998 Coimbatore 42 11,618 10,038 6,609 Cuddalore 21 6,022 5,463 3,704 Dharmapuri 17 3,496 3,396 2,503 Dindigul 26 4,449 4,372 2,625 Erode 20 6,212 5,545 3,765 Kallakurichi 4 553 526 399 Kancheepuram 16 5,666 5,540 4,201 Kanniyakumari 18 3,230 2,916 1,925 Karur 4 2,404 1,931 1,614 Krishnagiri 10 4,157 3,714 2,667 Madurai 23 4,892 4,420 3,313 Nagapattinam 15 5,904 5,326 4,188 Namakkal 20 6,046 5,328 3,932 Perambalur 10 3,017 3,147 2,869 Pudukkottai 10 2,322 1,914 1,407 Ramanathapuram 11 1,173 1,118 713 Ranipet 3 2,422 2,167 1,135 Salem 21 3,143 2,591 2,123 Sivaganga 14 1,865 1,761 1,048 Tenkasi 5 842 797 523 Thanjavur 14 5,308 4,937 4,151 The Nilgiris 6 5,001 4,086 3,654 Theni 10 1,334 1,181 865 Thiruvallur 21 7,684 7,683 5,926 Thiruvarur 9 2,600 2,517 2,105 Thoothukkudi 5 1,282 1,161 1,014 Tiruchirappalli 26 8,924 7,612 6,381 Tirunelveli 16 3,427 3,320 2,517 Tirupathur 5 1,698 1,613 1,168 Tiruppur 7 1,031 816 645 Tiruvannamalai 12 7,031 6,483 5,528 Vellore 17 6,230 5,586 4,296 Viluppuram 7 2,492 2,113 1,511 Virudhunagar 15 1,989 2,181 1,693(ii) JSS: Name of No. of Training Total candidates Total candidates Total candidates District Centres enrolled trained certified Chennai 1 4,121 3,896 3,895 Kancheepuram 1 5,576 5,276 5,251 Madurai 1 5,760 5,374 5,302 Nagapattinam 1 4,520 4,520 4,500 Namakkal 1 5,960 5,393 5,384 Sivaganga 1 5,960 5,394 5,257 Thiruvarur 1 6,001 5,392 5,366 Tiruchirappalli 1 5,440 5,080 5,077 Virudhunagar 1 5,841 5,397 5,393 (iii) NAPS: No. of Total candidates Total candidates Name of District Establishments engaged certified Ariyalur 15 262 226 Chengalpattu 168 22,903 450 Chennai 684 93,984 8,005 Coimbatore 486 35,430 2,763 Cuddalore 56 4,223 2,771 Dharmapuri 35 471 196 Dindigul 62 2,278 220 Erode 87 4,787 816 Kallakurichi 13 74 74 Kancheepuram 505 1,14,521 2,663 Kanniyakumari 50 892 431 Karur 36 794 497 Krishnagiri 224 29,325 4,890 Madurai 180 5,582 778 Mayiladuthurai 5 82 56 Nagapattinam 31 178 177 Namakkal 28 219 168 Perambalur 18 3,276 161 Pudukkottai 38 3,555 429 24 241 96 Ramanathapuram Ranipet 42 5,009 854 Salem 94 1,964 1,072 Sivaganga 29 386 327 Tenkasi 17 252 7 Thanjavur 48 654 359 The Nilgiris 34 320 200 Theni 38 289 133 Thiruvallur 236 25,601 1,740Thiruvarur 19 70 14 Thoothukkudi 53 573 448 Tiruchirappalli 98 8,739 3,209 Tirunelveli 67 3,425 594 Tirupathur 23 478 56 Tiruppur 105 2,047 196 Tiruvannamalai 34 1,996 295 Vellore 83 2,192 469 Viluppuram 41 1,293 495 Virudhunagar 41 1,357 212 (iv) CTS/ITIs: Total Total No. of Training Total candidates Name of District candidates candidates Centres (ITIs) trained/assessed enrolled certified Ariyalur 4 2265 815 779 Chengalpattu 10 2458 1017 931 Chennai 12 5320 1982 1635 Coimbatore 14 3969 1580 1417 Cuddalore 22 7364 3433 3013 Dharmapuri 2 1169 387 382 Dindigul 9 3173 1370 1070 Erode 13 2700 993 775 Kallakurichi 10 2930 1199 1073 Kancheepuram 8 1191 518 439 Kanniyakumari 13 2846 1215 1053 Karur 7 926 513 489 Krishnagiri 5 1775 659 635 Madurai 9 4882 2000 1872 Mayiladuthurai 7 1230 725 496 Nagapattinam 7 2902 1206 920 Namakkal 9 1503 446 346 Perambalur 6 1344 512 463 Pudukkottai 13 3289 1351 1016 7 Ramanathapuram 2809 854 775 Ranipet 11 2722 1099 1032 Salem 15 5098 1722 1575 Sivaganga 7 1570 498 441 Tenkasi 13 2967 1192 941 Thanjavur 15 5105 2238 1605 The Nilgiris 6 1586 451 403 Theni 8 3407 1261 1040 Thiruvallur 16 3821 1625 1341 Thiruvarur 10 2128 867 593 Thoothukkudi 16 3840 1351 1187 Tiruchirappalli 22 6495 3036 2531 Tirunelveli 12 3425 1339 1111Tirupathur 5 1166 425 347 Tiruppur 8 2901 797 743 Tiruvannamalai 24 4885 2828 2510 Vellore 11 2470 1261 1121 Viluppuram 21 2525 1309 1161 Virudhunagar 8 3556 1283 1134 *****