Lok Sabha Question No. 2881 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Skill Gap in the Indian Job Market
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2881

ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## SKILL GAP IN THE INDIAN JOB MARKET

† 2881. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has made any assessment in respect of skill gap in the Indian job market to provide appropriate skill training and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has assessed the number of skilled people required for sustainable development in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to accelerate skill development process in the country, especially in Rajasthan along with the funds allocated for this purpose?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

- (a) and (b)      In 2014-15, 29.82 crore out of the 40 crore workforce in India were estimated to be unskilled. Further, 1.5 crore unskilled were joining the workforce every year as per the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015. The District Skill Committees (DSCs), under the guidance of respective State Skill Development Missions (SSDMs), also play a key role in assessing the demand of skilled workforce and addressing the skill gap at the district level. The DSCs  are  entrusted  with  the  development  of  District  Skill  Development  Plans  (DSDPs)  to promote  decentralized  planning  and  implementation  at  the  grassroots.  The  DSDPs  identify sectors  in  which  employment  opportunities  and  demand  for  skilling  exist  in  the  respective districts.

Further, the Government through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) got conducted for the district-level skill gap studies for different states in India. The overall objective of these studies was to assess the district-level skill gaps in the concerned States, both in terms of numbers and the required skills and competence. The studies provide information on the skills needed and the skill gaps in various sectors across districts in the state, which help understand the skill requirements and opportunities within the states.

- (c)        The Skill India Mission (SIM) of the Govt of India is aimed at skilling, re-skilling and upskilling to ensure our youth are prepared for the large number of opportunities coming up as the economy expands and India moves from the 10 th largest economy to 3 rd largest economy in the world. SIM is aimed at future ready and Industry ready skills for our youth.

Under SIM, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and  up-skill  training  through  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  in  the  State  of  Rajasthan.  In  the  state  of Rajasthan, there are 1,613 ITIs (160 Government and 1453 Private), 29 PMKKs, 8 JSSs and 580 establishments  actually  engaging  apprentices  under  NAPS.   Grants-in-Aid  released  under PMKVY and JSS during the last three years viz. 2020-21 to 2022-23 for the State of Rajasthan was Rs. 135.39 Crore and Rs. 10.85  Crore respectively. Day-to-day administration  as  well  as financial  control  in  respect  of  ITIs  lies  with  the  respective  State  Governments/  Union  Territory Administration. Under NAPS, establishments are incentivised by way of stipend support.

In order to meet skilling requirement for future workforce, improve the quality of skilling and align the training programs with the changes in the economy and technology to meet the needs of the industry,  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and Entrepreneurship (MSDE):

- i. Expansion in infrastructure of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) through new ITIs in Public and Private Sectors.
- ii. Upgradation  and  modernization  of ITIs in terms of their infrastructure,  pedagogy, curriculum and technology interventions.
- iii. Introduction of new-age courses in Internet of Things (IoT), Renewable Energy, Additive Manufacturing Technology (3-D Printing), Mechatronics, Drone Technology etc.
- iv. Launching of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), for imparting short-term skill training to the youth.
- v. Implementation  of  JSS  to  impart  Vocational  Skills  to  non-literates,  neo-literates  and  the persons having rudimentary level of education upto 8th standard and school dropouts upto 12th standard in the age group of 15-45 years.
- vi. Setting  up  of  Sector  Skill  Councils  (SSCs)  as  industry-led  bodies  to  develop  National Occupation Standards (NOSs).
- vii. Implementation of Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP),  an  outcome-oriented  World Bank  supported project for strengthening institutional mechanisms at both national and state levels.
- viii. Implementation  of  Skills  Strengthening  for  Industrial  Value  Enhancement  (STRIVE) scheme,  a  World  Bank  assisted  project  launched  with  the  objective  of  improving  the relevance  and  efficiency  of  skills  training  provided  through  Industrial  Training  Institutes (ITIs) and apprenticeships.
- ix. Mobilisation/outreach activities through Kaushal/Rozgar Melas, Skills Career Counselling Scheme in making skilling aspirational.
- x. Trainings  of  Trainers  through  National  Skill  Training  Institutes  (NSTIs)  and  Institutes  of Training of Trainers (IToTs).
- xi. Launch of National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to promote apprenticeship training  in  the  country  by  providing  stipend  support  ,  undertake  capacity  building  of  the apprenticeship ecosystem and provide advocacy assistance to support rapid growth.

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