Lok Sabha Question No. 138 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Recognition of Prior Learning Component of PMKVY
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Smt. Shambhavi, Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *138

ANSWERED ON - 09.02.2026

## RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING COMPONENT OF PMKVY

*138. DR. D. PURANDESWARI:

SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

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

- (a) the  total  number  of  workers  certified  under  the  Recognition  of  Prior  Learning  (RPL) component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to improve the quality and industry relevance  of  Short-Term  Training  programmes  offered  by  private  training  providers  under PMKVY;
- (c) whether the Government has any mechanism to monitor and audit the dropout rate and actual placements of candidates from short-term training courses across different sectors, if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor;
- (d) the  total  financial  budget  sanctioned  and  the  actual  expenditure  incurred  on  the  RPL component, and the strategy to increase its coverage in the unorganised sector; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  collaborated  with  large  sector  employers  to  make  RPL certification  mandatory for experienced but uncertified workers in specific industries such as construction or retail and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *138 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 ASKED BY DR. D. PURANDESWARI AND SMT. SHAMBHAVI REGARDING RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING COMPONENT OF PMKVY

(a) As on 31.12.2025, a total of 57,34,088 workers have been certified under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) across the country. The number of such workers in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh is as under:

| Sl. No.   | State          | Certified   |
|-----------|----------------|-------------|
| i.        | Andhra Pradesh | 1,29,370    |
| ii.       | Bihar          | 2,10,754    |
| iii.      | Madhya Pradesh | 2,60,561    |
| iv.       | Uttar Pradesh  | 8,19,132    |

(b) T o  improve  the  quality  and  industry  relevance  of  Short-Term Training  under  PMKVY, MSDE  has  implemented  a  technology-driven,  multi-layered  monitoring  system  to  ensure transparent and effective implementation of PMKVY 4.0. Training is standardized through the National  Skills  Qualification  Framework  (NSQF),  aligning  courses  with  industry  needs  and national  priorities.  Leading  companies  such  as  HCL  Technologies,  IBM,  Bajaj  Finserv,  and Microsoft have been designated as Awarding Bodies to develop industry-aligned job roles.

PMKVY 4.0 introduces job roles based on market demand, particularly in emerging sectors like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, IoT, Semiconductors, Drone Technology, Solar Energy, and 3D Printing, with over 600 new-age roles launched so far. The scheme emphasizes employability through  On-the-Job  Training  (OJT)  and  transparent,  digitized  certification  using  QR-coded certificates.

The  Skill  India  Digital  Hub  (SIDH)  provides  a  unified  digital  platform  for  course  discovery, candidate onboarding, e-KYC, real-time tracking, and the onboarding of Training Providers and Centres. Training is delivered through accredited centres meeting prescribed norms, supported by capacity building initiatives such as Training of Trainers (ToT) and Training of Assessors (ToA) to ensure a skilled national pool of trainers and assessors.

(c) A real-time dashboard on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has been developed to track training progress, dropouts, and other key parameters of the scheme, enabling timely corrective actions to reduce dropouts.

A  third-party  evaluation  of  PMKVY  4.0  conducted  by  the  Arun  Jaitley  National  Institute  of Financial Management (AJNIFM) in 2025 found that dropouts primarily occur due to academic examinations, seasonal employment, early job offers, migration, and personal reasons. Dropout data  also  includes  batch  cancellations  by  Project  Implementing  Agencies  (PIAs)  due  to operational challenges, monitoring-related irregularities, oversubscription in certain job roles, which prompted corrective action by the Ministry.

To improve retention, special provisions under the Common Norms have been introduced for women, Persons with Disabilities, and candidates from special areas, including boarding and lodging support, transport and conveyance allowances. In addition, a strong grievance redressal and  feedback  mechanism  has  been  established  through  helplines  and  digital  platforms  to address trainee concerns related to infrastructure, trainer quality, and other issues.

(d) As on 31.12.2025, a total amount of ₹1,026.16 crore has been disbursed under the RPL component of PMKVY.

PMKVY has been designed as a demand-driven scheme to address skilling needs in both the organised and unorganised sectors based on regional and sectoral labour market demand. To increase RPL coverage in the unorganized sector, the Government is focusing on cluster-based and employer-led RPL projects in sectors like construction, retail, logistics, textiles, tourism and other informal trades where large numbers of experienced but uncertified workers are engaged.

(e) The  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  &  Entrepreneurship,  through  RPL  component  of PMKVY Scheme, promotes certification of skills for experienced but uncertified workers across sectors including construction, retail and others. The Ministry is actively collaborating with large employers, industries, business associations, etc., to strengthen skilling and improve employability outcome and certification under PMKVY.

Further,  with  a  view  to  make  skilling  aspirational,  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  & Entrepreneurship is engaging with Central Ministries/ Departments and State Governments to encourage  the  hiring  of  National  Skills  Qualification  Framework  (NSQF)  certified  workers, including  through  convergence  with  existing  mechanisms  such  as  the  Building  and  Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) Welfare Fund, etc.

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