Lok Sabha Question No. 3663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Parameters in Skill Development Programme
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3663 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## PARAMETERS IN SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 3663. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

## Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  still  a  multiplicity  of  norms  and  parameters  which  creates  a diffusive effect of Skill Development Programmes, which needed to be streamlined;
- (b) if so, the response and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether there is a need to rationalise the whole spectrum of skill development processes  and  systems  including  inputs,  outputs,  funding/cost  norms,  third  party certification  and  assessment,  monitoring/tracking  mechanisms,  and  empanelment  of training providers;
- (d) if  so, the steps taken to bring about uniformity and standardisation among the skill development schemes;
- (e) whether there is a need to define the outcomes of skill training programmes in terms of placement achieved in wage and self-employment, both for fresh trainees as well as existing workers; and
- (f) if so, the steps taken by the Government and success achieved so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) Earlier,  there  existed a multiplicity of norms, guidelines and standards for skill development  courses.  However,  after  the  establishment  of  the  Ministry  of  Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2014, it has initiated various convergence efforts  across  the  skill  ecosystem  to  bring  a  common  set  of  rules  and guidelines into force so that the skill training provided across the country could follow a common set of rules in every area of skill development MSDE has undertaken various measures in this regard; the key measures are as below-

- (i)     The introduction of the Common Cost Norms.
- (ii)    The creation of a National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

The Common Cost Norms have helped to harmonise the various skilling schemes/programs and bring a base level of consistency in the inputs, process and output metrics. These norms are followed by Central Government's Ministries/Departments running skill training programs.

MSDE has created a unified regulatory authority, the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), to promote a credible learner-centric skill ecosystem by  creating  minimal,  uniform  standards  to  regulate  the  functioning  of  the  vocational education  ecosystem  and  enabling  market-driven  solutions.NSDA  (the  precursor  to NCVET)  was  given the mandate  to manage  the National Skills Qualification Framework  (NSQF),  created  in  2013,  which  facilitates  the  adoption  of  common standardization  for  all  skill  related  course  curriculums.  All  major  skill  development programs being implemented centrally have adopted this framework. Currently, NSQF

has organized more than 4600 skill qualifications according to the level of knowledge, skills and aptitude.

(b) In  order  to  bring  about  uniformity  and  standardisation  in  the  implementation  of various skill  development  schemes by different central  Ministries/departments  of the Government, MSDE has created the Common Cost Norms. The Common Cost Norms define  the  activities  constituting  'skill  development'  in  the  country,  set  guidelines  for skill  development  courses  and  their  alignment  with  the  National  Skills  Qualification Framework (NSQF) along with broad input standards for skilling related programmes and their outcomes.

(c) Skill  India  is  a  continuous  dynamic  programme  that  adapts  changing  needs  of skills and opportunities. With the objective of coordinating the efforts of all concerned stakeholders  in  the  field  of  skill  development  and  entrepreneurship,  MSDE  was created in November, 2014. With the advent of a central Ministry, efforts to improve and streamline the skilling ecosystem were ramped up as the government launched the  National  Skill  Development  Mission  as  well  as  the  National  Policy  on  Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. More and more areas are being aligned with the common  framework  spanning  the  skills  ecosystem  so  that  the  outcomes  of  the Government skilling programs are uniform across the skilling ecosystem.

(d) MSDE  has  made  various  effortsat  the  institutional  and  structural  levels  to rationalise and streamline the entire skill development process. Certain key steps such as the Common Cost Norms, NSQF and NCVET have been covered above in part (a). Other key initiatives are summarised below -

(i) Standardization of input quality through SMART Portal Skill Management & Accreditation  of  Training  Centre  (SMART)  is an  accreditation and  affiliation  platform developed  by  NSDC  to  bring  about  uniformity  in  the  process  of  accreditation  and affiliation and improve quality assurance across training centres.

- (ii) Data convergence on the Skill India Portal TheSkill  India  Portal  has  been brought  into  existence  to  ensure  data  congruence  and  converge  data  relating  to  all skilling  programmes  in  the  country  including  Central  Ministries,  State  Governments and corporations on one platform. This process is in progress. Once the process of integration is complete, the Skill India Portal would provide an accurate estimation and planning for training  program,  reduction in  duplication  and  wasteful  expenditure  and better visibility of the entire skill ecosystem.
- (iii) National Portal for Trainers and Assessors Takshashila, a dedicated online portal has been setup by MSDE for the management of trainers and assessors of the skill  ecosystem,  functioning  as  the  central  repository  of  information  concerning development of quality Trainers and Assessors.
- (e) The  set  of  desired  outcomes  of  skill  training  programmes  already  include placement  achieved  in  wage  and  self-employment  (for  both  for  fresh  trainees  and existing  workers  who  have  undergone  Recognition  of  Prior  Learning)  as  one  of  the outcomes.

(f) The flagship program of MSDE, scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY),  captures  data  up  to  3  months  for  both  wage  workers  and  self-employed workers. Other MSDE schemes do not provide for placement of the skilled persons. Skills  training  apart  from  direct  placements  also  results  in  many  students  becoming self-employed  or  starting  entrepreneurship  ventures.  Beyond  these,  the  NSDC  runs fee-based  courses  as  well  but  the  same  are  not  included  here  since  they  are  not conducted with expenditure from Government. Moreover, placement can be only one of the desired outcomes and in the vast skill ecosystem, placement cannot always be assured  since  it  depends  heavily  on  market  conditions,  general  economic  scenario (including foreign trade) and derived demand for skilled labour.

******