Lok Sabha Question No. 2018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Minority Skill Development Scheme in Maharashtra
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2018

ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026

## MINORITY SKILL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME IN MAHARASHTRA

2018.  DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA  DINESH:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken a district-wise assessment of allocation, release and actual utilisation of funds under the Minority Skill Development Scheme in Maharashtra during FY 2024 -25 and FY 2025 -26 along with the findings thereof;
- (b) the details of the policy rationale and approvals for routing Minority Welfare funds through the Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) including details of administrative charges, portal fees or commissions deducted;
- (c)  whether  a  transparent  tendering  or  EOI  process  was  followed  for  empanelment  of  training institutions  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  for  deviation  from  prescribed financial and procurement norms;
- (d) whether any complaints and documentary evidence regarding non-existent training centres, inflated  training  hours,  misuse  of  Aadhaar  data  and  duplication  of  beneficiaries  have  been received and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  a  time-bound  audit,  fixing of accountability  and restructuring of the scheme to prevent recurrence and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)  Scheme  which  focuses  on  socio-economic  empowerment    of  six  notified  minorities through skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts. PM VIKAS is implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, therefore, funds are not allocated to States/UT for implementation of the scheme.

(b)  to  (e):  As  per  PM  VIKAS  scheme  guidelines,  State  Government  institutions  may  submit proposal under the scheme along with recommendation from the respective State Governments for  consideration  by  the  Ministry  under  PM  VIKAS  scheme.  Further,  project  costing  for  all National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) aligned trainings shall be as per the Common Norms prescribed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Besides, under PM VIKAS scheme, Ministry does not deduct any administrative charges, portal fees or commissions  for  submission  of  proposals  on  the  PM  VIKAS  scheme  portal.  As  on  date,  no projects have been allocated to ' Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) ' under PM VIKAS scheme.

The PM VIKAS scheme follows a transparent process for allocation of targets to eligible Project Implementing Agencies  (PIAs). As  per  para  3.3.3  of  the  PM VIKAS  scheme  guidelines, ' All proposals received by this Ministry shall be evaluated by the PM VIKAS Screening Committee (SC).  If  the  proposal  is  deemed  fit,  it  shall  be  further  recommended  to  the  PM  VIKAS Empowered  Committee  (EC)  for  final  consideration  on  approval  or  rejection  including  the targets to be allocated. If the proposal is not deemed fit at the PM VIKAS SC level, the same shall be returned to the source ' .

Under the PM VIKAS Scheme, the implementation of the projects has commenced only recently. Further ,  Ministry's dedicated portal for the PM VIKAS Scheme has been integrated with Skill India  Digital  Hub  (SIDH)  portal  of  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship (MSDE)  to  ensure  efficient,  real-time  monitoring  along  with  coherence  within  the  skilling ecosystem and keeping in mind the 'whole -ofgovernment' approach.

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