Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's initiatives in skill development and enhancement, as addressed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3579 on August 11, 2025. It details the assessment of current and future skill needs, alignment of training with market dynamics, and mechanisms for incorporating feedback to improve training standards. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements various programs and policies to bridge skill gaps and meet industry requirements.
Key Points / Main Content:
Skill Needs Assessment and Planning:
* Skill gap studies are conducted periodically to identify skill needs and gaps across various sectors.
* District Skill Committees (DSCs) formulate District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) for decentralized planning and implementation.
* MSDE conducted a National Skill Gap Study of seven high-growth sectors through NCAER to analyze sector-specific skill demands.
Alignment with Job Market and Technological Advancements:
* National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) sets regulations and standards for quality in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
* Awarding Bodies develop qualifications based on industry demand and map them with occupations, validated by industry.
* Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry, identify skill development needs and determine skill competency standards.
* Directorate General of Training (DGT) implements Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST) for ITI students in industrial environments.
* PMKVY aligns new-age/future skills job roles with Industry 4.0 requirements.
* DGT introduces new-age courses in ITIs and NSTIs, and partners with IT companies for technical skills training.
* Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) provides industry-ready workforce training through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
* Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) integrates skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
* Rozgar Melas and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) facilitate placements and apprenticeships.
Feedback Mechanism for Training Improvement:
* Feedback from trainees under PMKVY is collected on parameters like lab sufficiency, trainer satisfaction, and assessment fairness.
* SSCs identify skill development needs and determine skill competency standards.
* New courses/qualifications developed by Awarding Bodies are validated by industry players.
Impact Analysis:
Trainees:
* Impact: Improved training programs aligned with industry needs, better job prospects, and access to new-age skills.
* Action Required: Provide feedback on training programs and utilize SIDH for job and apprenticeship opportunities.
Employers:
* Impact: Access to a skilled workforce equipped with relevant skills and industry-validated qualifications.
* Action Required: Participate in SSCs, validate new courses, and engage with SIDH to connect with potential employees.
Training Institutions (ITIs, NSTIs, IIS):
* Impact: Enhanced curriculum, access to industry partnerships, and alignment with national standards.
* Action Required: Implement new-age courses, engage with industry partners, and adhere to NCVET standards.
Sector Skill Councils (SSCs):
* Impact: Play a crucial role in identifying skill gaps and defining skill competency standards for their respective sectors.
* Action Required: Continuously assess skill needs, collaborate with industry, and develop relevant training programs.
Awarding Bodies:
* Impact: Responsible for developing industry-relevant qualifications and ensuring alignment with national standards.
* Action Required: Develop qualifications based on industry demand, map them with occupations, and obtain industry validations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): The Indian government ministry responsible for skill development and entrepreneurship.
National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET): An overarching regulator establishing regulations and standards to ensure quality in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space.
Sector Skill Councils (SSCs): Industry-led bodies that identify skill development needs and determine skill competency standards for their respective sectors.
Directorate General of Training (DGT): An organization under MSDE implementing training schemes like Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST).
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A skill development scheme under which new age/future skills job roles have been aligned with Industry 4.0 requirements.
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs): Institutes where new age future skills courses are introduced to provide training in emerging areas.
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH): A unified platform that integrates skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Location of one of the Indian Institutes of Skills (IIS).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3579
ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
SKILL NEEDS AND ENHANCING TRAINING INITIATIVES
3579. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:
Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the current and future skill needs across various
industries and sectors and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is planning to align skill development initiatives with the changing
dynamics of the job market and technological advancements and if so, the details thereof;
and
(c) whether there is any mechanism in place to incorporate feedback from trainees and
employers to improve training standards and meet industry requirements 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): Skill Gap studies are conducted from time to time which provide information on the
skills needed and the skill gaps in various sectors. Such studies guide the interventions of the
Government aimed at preparing the workforce as per the industry needs. Further, District Skill
Committees (DSCs) are mandated with formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs)
to promote decentralized planning and implementation at the grassroots. The DSDPs identify
sectors with employment opportunities as well as the associated demand for skilling in the
district, and map the available facilities for Skill Training. Skill Development Programmes of
the Government are designed and implemented to bridge identified skill gaps across sectors
Through National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has conducted a National Skill Gap Study of
seven high-growth sectors to establish a robust methodology for analyzing sector-specific
skill demands. The seven sectors include – (i) Growing of cereal, leguminous crops and
oilseeds; (ii) raising of cattle and buffaloes; (iii) weaving of textiles; (iv) manufacture of motor
vehicles, parts & accessories of motor vehicles; (v) electric power generation using solar
energy and other non-conventional sources; (vi) retail sale of food, clothing, footwear and
leather articles in specialised stores and maintenance & repair of MVs and; (vii) computer
programming activities. The study has identified job roles which are facing and are likely to
face demand shortage in the seven sectors.
(b): To ensure the skills imparted through various scheme of MSDE are aligned with the
industry requirements and technological advancements, the following specific steps have
been taken:
(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 recognised 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) NCVET has approved 8693 qualifications as per the industry requirements, out of
which 2266 qualifications are valid and active, and 6427 qualifications are archived for
being not relevant.
(iv) 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.
(v) 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.
(vi) 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.
(vii) DGT has introduced new age /future skills courses in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) under CTS to provide training in emerging
areas such as 5G Network Technician, Artificial Intelligence Programming assistant,
Cyber Security Assistant, Drone Technician etc.
(viii) DGT has signed MoU with IT Tech companies like IBM, CISCO, Microsoft, Amazon
Web Services (AWS) and Future Skill Rights Network, 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.
(ix) 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.
(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 to key stakeholders. 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) Rozgar Melas and Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Melas (PMNAMs) are
organised to facilitate the placements and apprenticeship opportunities to the certified
candidates.
(c): To improve the skill training delivery, appropriate mechanism has been established for
seeking feedback of trainees. For instance, the feedback under PMKVY are sought on
parameters like lab sufficiency, satisfaction with trainer, fairness of assessors, assessment in
local language, recommending the training to others, etc. As regards skill requirements, the
Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) identify the skill development needs of respective sectors as
well as determine skill competency standards. The new courses/qualifications developed by
Awarding Bodies are validated by the industry players to ensure that they match the standards
and requirements of the industry players.
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