Lok Sabha Question No. 3766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Job-oriented Infrastructure
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3766

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2025

## JOB-ORIENTED INFRASTRUCTURE

## 3766.  SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the job growth is lagging in the country due to automation and artificial intelligence;
- (b) if so, the extent to which  the job  growth  is  hampered  by automation and artificial intelligence; and
- (c) the details of the efforts being made by Government to create joboriented infrastructure?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a)  to  (c):  The  official  data  source  of  Employment/  Unemployment indicator in India is the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by  the  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July to June every year.  As per the data  available  in  latest  Annual  PLFS  Reports,  the  estimated  Worker Population Ratio (WPR)  i.e. indicating employment on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above has increased from 46.8% in 2017-18 to 58.2% in 2023-24.

Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  may  result  in  automating  some  routine jobs  but  will  also  result  in  job  creation  in  various  data  science,  data curation,  etc.  This  will  require  reskilling  and  upskilling,  for  which Government especially Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)  has  initiated  'FutureSkills  PRIME'  a  programme  for Re-skilling/Up-skilling of IT Manpower for Employability in 10 new/emerging  technologies  including  Artificial  Intelligence.  Under  this programme so far, 18.56 Lakh+ candidates have signed-up on the Future Skills PRIME  Portal, out of which, 3.37 Lakhs+ candidates have completed their course.

In addition, under the Scheme of Centers of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence  implemented  by  MeitY  in  partnership  with  NASSCOM, Startups  are  supported  for  developing  AI  based  tools  and  applications that  are  of  use  for  manufacturing  companies.  Several  such  solutions have  been  deployed  by  companies  in  manufacturing  sector.    Besides, National  e-Governance Division  (NeGD),  MeitY  in  collaboration  with  its partners, has implemented 'YUVAi: Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI' -A National Programme for School Students with the objective of enabling school students from classes 8th to 12th with AI tech and social skills in an inclusive manner. The programme will provide a platform for youth to learn and apply AI skills in 8 thematic areas- Krishi, Aarogya, Shiksha, Paryavaran,  Parivahan,  Grameen  Vikas,  Smart  Cities  and  Vidhi  aur

Nyaay. The  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  is  running  the  National Career  Service  (NCS)  Portal  which  is  a  one-stop  solution  for  providing career related services.  The portal also gives information on online & offline  job  fairs,  job  search  &  matching,  career  counselling,  vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, skill/training programmes etc. through a digital platform [www.ncs.gov.in].

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