**Summary:**
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), under the Skill India Mission (SIM), is actively pursuing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to enhance skill development across India, including rural areas. The MSDE delivers skill, reskill, and upskill training through various schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
MSDE collaborates with private players on skill development programs. As of June 30, 2025, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed under PMKVY 4.0, with state-wise details of trained candidates available on the Ministry's website (https://www.msde.gov.indocuments - Annexure I). The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under MSDE, has also signed MoUs under the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS); details are available on the website (https://www.msde.gov.indocuments - Annexure II).
Furthermore, DGT has partnered with entities like IBM India, Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe India, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Future Right Skills Network (FRSN) under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, benefiting over 25 lakh youth.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) acts as the national regulator, setting standards and regulations for the skilling ecosystem. NCVET has agreements with 61 private Awarding Bodies (ABs) and 68 private Assessment Agencies (AAs); a detailed list is available on the website (https://www.msde.gov.indocuments - Annexure III).
To enhance skill development, MSDE fosters partnerships with both international corporations and domestic enterprises. These collaborations introduce best practices. Sector Skill Councils and District Skill Committees also work with local industries to address regional skill gaps.
Specific initiatives include:
* MoUs/MoCs with twelve countries to align skilling efforts with global requirements.
* An MoU between MSDE and Microsoft Global Services Centre India Private Limited to launch "AI Careers for Women."
* Establishment of 30 Skill India International Centres to meet the demand for skilled workers abroad.
* DGT implementing Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training (DST) to provide ITI students with industrial environment training. Eleven MoUs are active under this scheme; details are available on the website (https://www.msde.gov.indocuments - Annexure IV).
* Collaboration with Microsoft, HCL Tech, and Nasccom with Skill Up for Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR).
* Establishment of Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) at Ahmedabad and Mumbai in PPP mode for Industry 4.0 training.
* Private and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) contributing to the National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) for skill development projects via the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
This information was provided by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: The Indian government ministry responsible for skill development and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Skill India Mission: A Government of India initiative aimed at providing skill, reskill, and upskill training to the youth of India.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A flagship scheme under the Skill India Mission to enable Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training.
National Council for Vocational Education and Training: An overarching national regulator for vocational education and training in India, responsible for setting standards and developing regulations.
Directorate General of Training: An organization under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship that oversees various training schemes including the Craftsman Training Scheme.
Indian Institute of Skills Ahmedabad: An institute established in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in Public-Private Partnership mode, providing advanced skill training for Industry 4.0.
Indian Institute of Skills Mumbai: An institute established in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in Public-Private Partnership mode, providing advanced skill training for Industry 4.0.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary: Minister of State Independent Charge, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Public Private Partnerships for Skill Development in
Rural Areas
Posted On: 11 AUG 2025 4:28PM by PIB Delhi
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 rural areas. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready, equipped with industry
relevant skills.
MSDE engages with private players for various skill development initiatives/programs. Details of
MoUs signed under PMKVY 4.0 to carry out skill development Initiatives till 30.06.2025 and State-
wise details of candidates trained are at Annexure-I (which is available on Ministry’s website at
https://www.msde.gov.in/documents). Details of MoUs signed under Crafts Instructor Training
Scheme (CITS) by Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the aegis of MSDE are at
Annexure-II (which is available on Ministry’s website at https://www.msde.gov.in/documents).
Further, DGT has collaborated with entities including IBM India, Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe India,
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), etc. for skilling initiatives, under
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). These partnerships facilitate the provision of technical and
professional skills training in modern technologies. Although no state-specific details are available,
more than 25 lakh youth have been reported to be benefited through these initiatives.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) serves as an overarching
national regulator with the aim of setting standards, developing comprehensive regulations, and
improving the vocational education, training, and skilling ecosystem. NCVET recognises entities as
Awarding Bodies (ABs) and Assessment Agencies (AAs). As on date NCVET has signed
agreements with 61 private Awarding Bodies and 68 private Assessment Agencies. The detailed list
is attached as Annexure III (which is available on Ministry’s website at
https://www.msde.gov.in/documents).
For enhancing the skill development capabilities, a balanced approach is taken by fostering
partnerships with international corporations as well as the domestic enterprises. These
collaborations introduce best practices for strengthening skilling ecosystems. Sector Skill Councils
and District Skill Committees also engage with local industries to address regional skill gaps. Details
of the initiatives for collaboration with private sector and international institutions for skill training
including advanced skill training are given below:
(i) Government of India has signed Memorandum of Understanding / Memorandum of Cooperation
in the field of skill development and vocational education & training with twelve countries to align the
skilling efforts as per the global requirements.
(ii) MSDE and Microsoft Global Services Centre (India) Private Limited have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch AI Careers for Women—a pioneering skilling
initiative aimed at empowering women in higher education institutions to pursue careers in ArtificialIntelligence (AI).
(iii) Government of India has announced setting up of 30 Skill India International Centres for
catering to the demand for skilled workers for foreign countries.
(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. Under this Scheme, 11 MoUs are active and their
details are at Annexure-IV (which is available on Ministry’s website at
https://www.msde.gov.in/documents).
(v) MDE has also collaborated with Microsoft, HCL Tech and Nasccom (with Skill Up), in
implementation of a programme on Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR).
(vi) Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) established at Ahmedabad and Mumbai, in Public Private
Partnership (PPP) Mode, provide training for an industry-ready workforce for Industry 4.0, equipped
with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training.
(vii) Private and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under their Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) contribute to the National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) for implementing various skill
development projects through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
*****
VV/SH
(Release ID: 2155057)