Parliament Question: Strengthening industry trust and participation in skilling ecosystems

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1405 ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026 STRENGTHENING INDUSTRY TRUST AND PARTICIPATION IN SKILLING ECOSYSTEMS 1405 SMT. REKHA SHARMA: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has examined the reasons for limited reliance by employers on public skilling certifications for recruitment, with hiring increasingly driven by internal training systems, referrals and private digital platforms; and (b) the measures being undertaken to deepen industry participation in curriculum design, assessment and certification under flagship initiatives such as Skill India, including the use of digital credentials, apprenticeships and sector-specific skilling partnerships, so as to enhance employer trust and workforce retention? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) & (b) : 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 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. The SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready, equipped with industry-relevant skills. PMKVY fosters employer trust through standardized NSQF-aligned curricula co-developed with Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and industries, ensuring skills like AI, robotics, and green jobs meet market needs. Digital credentials via Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) feature QR codes for instant verification, reducing fraud and boosting confidence in hiring over internal training. Initiatives like RPL upskill existing workers (higher salaries post-certification), and OJT enhance retention by proving workforce readiness. To ensure the skills imparted through various schemes of MSDE are aligned with the industry requirements and enhance employer trust, 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 9026 qualifications as per the industry requirements, out of which 2599 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 an 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), Auto Desk 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) 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. (x) National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has provision of stipend support to employers (reimbursing 25% of the stipend up to ₹1,500 per month) to encourage them to take on apprentices, through DBT. The On-the-Job Training (OJT) component of apprenticeship provides hands-on industry exposure, making apprentices job-ready while allowing employers complete flexibility in post-training engagement as permitted under the Apprentices Act, 1961. *****