The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the restructuring of the Skill India Programme (SIP) and continuing it till 2025-26. An outlay of Rs 8,800 crore has been set for this scheme, which will empower the skill development of youth.
Skill India Programme
- Skill India Programme is a comprehensive national mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 July 2015.
- This campaign is aimed at empowering India as a skilled workforce and making it self-reliant. This scheme is managed by the National Skill Development Corporation of India (NSDC).
- This program was first launched on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day in 2015. Under which more than 30 crore Indians were to be trained in various skills by 2022.
- Under this campaign, an attempt was made to reduce the gap between industry requirements and skills. It works to teach industrial and entrepreneurial skills to youth through training programs.
- The Government of India has established the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), which is committed to revitalizing India’s workforce and making it competitive in the international market.
- Under the Skill India program, India and the United Kingdom (UK) have launched a new partnership. Which will provide educational and professional opportunities to Indian and British youth in each other’s countries.
- On 16 April 2022, India established the first Skill India International Center in Bhubaneswar.
- During the establishment of this center, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Skill Development Institute (SDI) in the presence of the Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- Skill India campaign is proving to be a milestone in the country’s development journey. It is not only making the youth employable but also helping them become entrepreneurs and empowering India’s economic condition.
Skill India Program: Objectives and Importance
Objectives of the program
- Making the youth of the country ready for employment: The objective of this program is to teach the youth such skills that are in line with the market demands and prepare them for employment.
- Reducing the industrial and market gap: The primary objective of this scheme is to bridge the gap that exists between the growing demand of the industry and the lack of individual skills. Along with skill development, youth are being encouraged to become entrepreneurs by providing them entrepreneurship education and training.
- Taking advantage of the young population: 65% of India’s population is of working age and 54% of the people are below 25 years of age. The Skill India program aims to use this demographic advantage to provide skills to the youth so that they can contribute to the economic development of the country.
- Identification and development of new areas: Identifying areas where skill development is required and expanding training programs there is an important part of this campaign.
- Meeting global skill demand: According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), India may face a shortage of 29 million skilled personnel by 2030. The Skill India program aims to address this shortage and make the country globally competitive in new technologies and the manufacturing industry.
Significance of the program
- Making the Indian workforce globally competitive: Through this scheme, Indian youth are being established as a skilled workforce in world markets.
- Contribution to changing employment structure: More than 50% of the country’s population is dependent on agriculture, but the productivity of this sector is low. The program aims to make youth employable in sectors like service and manufacturing, so that they can ensure their future in these sectors.
- Social and economic reform: To improve the general public by empowering the weaker and underdeveloped sections of the society through skill development.
- Expansion of training in various sectors: Skilling the workforce through training programs in sectors such as real estate, construction, transport, textiles, banking, tourism and gemstone industry.
- Promoting talent and livelihood: Providing better livelihood to the youth and giving them a respectable place in the society and developing talents within the country.
- Building a self-reliant India: Leading the country towards the goal of a self-reliant India by creating a skilled and self-reliant workforce.
- Access to entrepreneurial networks: Providing easy access to entrepreneurial networks and resources to youth to promote entrepreneurship.