The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) has successfully trained 1.6 crore beneficiaries to date, achieving a placement rate of 43 percent during the initial three phases of the program, as reported by Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary in the Rajya Sabha.
In response to supplementary inquiries in the Rajya Sabha, the minister indicated that the government is currently implementing the fourth phase of the initiative, which places a stronger emphasis on training through more accredited institutions.
“We are now rolling out PMKVY 4.0. To date, 1.6 crore individuals have received training under this program,” he informed the members. “In the first three phases—PMKVY 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0—out of 71 lakh trained individuals, 43% (24.37 lakh) have successfully found placements,” he added.
The minister pointed out that the main goal of PMKVY 4.0 is to shift training efforts towards more recognized institutions. There is also an increased focus on targeted skill development and enhanced funding.
In a written reply to a starred question, Chaudhary elaborated that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has been executing PMKVY since 2015. The scheme offers skill training through Short-Term Training (STT) programs, as well as Re-skilling and Up-skilling via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) across the country.
Moreover, PMKVY 4.0 introduces specialized modules designed to promote entrepreneurship. These modules provide trainees with crucial financial and legal literacy skills, encompassing areas such as developing an entrepreneurial mindset, conducting market analysis, business planning, marketing strategies, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements for small enterprises. These components are incorporated into the ‘Employability Skills’ curriculum of PMKVY 4.0 training programs.
In the initial stages of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which took place from FY 2015-16 to FY 2021-22, tracking of placements and self-employment was carried out as part of the Short-Term Training component. However, with the introduction of PMKVY 4.0 in FY 2022-23, the emphasis has shifted towards equipping trained individuals to pursue various career opportunities with appropriate guidance and support, as detailed by the minister in his written statement.
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana will operate with a budget of Rs 948.90 crore. The initiative will be implemented through 729 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), accredited non-PMKK training centers, and over 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the Skill India initiative, which will facilitate the rollout of PMKVY 3.0 training.
The Skill India Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, serves as the foundation for the flagship PMKVY scheme.
