Parliament Question: Tech Education Reforms

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2710 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 TECH EDUCATION REFORMS 2710. SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL: PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken note of recent reports highlighting structural shifts in education, skilling and technology-led learning reforms being implemented across the country; (b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to align higher education institutions and skill centres in Maharashtra with emerging sectors such as Artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing and digital services; (c) whether any assessment has been carried out on gaps between skill training outcomes and actual employment opportunities for youth in the State, particularly in non-metro districts, if so, the details thereof; (d) the total amount of fund allocated and utilised for education modernisation, digital infrastructure and skill ecosystem reforms in Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year; and (e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that technology- driven education reforms lead to equitable access, industry-linked training and sustainable employment opportunities for students and youth across Maharashtra? 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 including the state of Maharashtra. The SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready, equipped with industry-relevant skills. PMKVY 4.0 is being implemented through the Skill Hub Initiative (SHI), wherein Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) such as AICTE-affiliated colleges, State Government Universities, Private Universities, Institutes of National Importance and UGC-recognised institutions are empanelled as Skill Hubs to integrate vocational education within the formal academic ecosystem. With the aim to meet industry demand, drive digital transformation, and build workforce readiness for Industry 4.0 and the green transition, under PMKVY4.0 specialised short-term and advanced modules focused on AI, Robotics and new age technologies have been introduced. Under CTS, training in 31 new age courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Robotics and climate friendly technology, AI, Drone etc. for skilling and upskilling of youth of the country are conducted through a network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). (c) Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) have undertaken skill gap studies across sectors providing demand–supply assessments and manpower projections. District Skill Committees (DSCs), established across all States/UTs are mandated with formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) to support decentralized, grassroots-level skill planning by identifying local employment opportunities, skilling demand, and available training infrastructure. Government skill programmes are then designed to bridge these identified skill gaps across sectors. Additionally, the SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion)- supported National Skill Gap Study by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) provides a standardized, data-driven framework to assess skill gaps across seven high-growth sectors. It helps MSDE align skilling initiatives with industry demand and future workforce needs. (d) The total amount of funds disbursed to Maharashtra state under various schemes of MSDE during the last three years including the Current Year upto 31.12.2025 are as follows:- Total funds disbursed Schemes (Rs. in Crores) PMKVY 4.0 81.14 JSS 41.10 Day-to-day administration as well as financial control in respect of ITIs lies with the respective State Governments/ Union Territory Administration. Under, NAPS-2, the stipend support by Government of India (GoI) is paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) / Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to the bank account of apprentices. No specific budget provision for the States/ UTs is earmarked under the Scheme. (e) To ensure the skills imparted through various scheme of MSDE are aligned with the industry requirements, technological advancements and creation of sustainable employment opportunities, 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) 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 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. (vii) 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. (viii) 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. *****