Lok Sabha Question No. 1287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Skill Gaps in Key Sectors
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1287

ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## SKILL GAPS IN KEY SECTORS

## 1287. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has evaluated the current skill gaps in key sectors of the economy;
- (b) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government to upgrade training infrastructure and improve industry-linked skill development; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expand entrepreneurship support for youth from rural and economically weaker regions, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b): District Skill Committees (DSCs), established across all States/UTs are mandated with formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) to support decentralized, grassroots-level skill planning by identifying local employment opportunities, skilling demand, and available training infrastructure.  Government  skill  programmes  are  then  designed  to  bridge  these  identified  skill gaps across sectors. The Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry experts, regularly conduct skill  gap  studies to assess sector-wise skill needs and set competency standards, which guide government  interventions  to  align  the  workforce  with  industry  requirements. Additionally,  the SANKALP  (Skill  Acquisition  and  Knowledge  Awareness  for  Livelihood  Promotion)-supported National Skill Gap Study by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) provides a standardized,  data-driven  framework  to  assess  skill  gaps  across  seven  high-growth  sectors.  It helps MSDE align skilling initiatives with industry demand and future workforce needs.

Further, in order to meet skilling requirement for future workforce, improve the quality of skilling, to align the training programs to market needs and improve the employability of trainees, following specific steps have been taken by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE):

- i. The training programs offered under the schemes of MSDE are developed in collaboration with industries, keeping in view market demands.
- ii. Future ready job-roles addressing the requirement of Industry 4.0, emerging sectors like Drone, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Mechatronics, etc., have been prioritized under Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY)  4.0. Also,  Under  Craftsmen  Training Scheme (CTS) in ITIs,  new  age  courses  have  been  developed  to  meet  the  demand  of futuristic job roles in emerging technologies.
- iii. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been set up as an overarching  regulator  establishing  regulations  and  standards  to  ensure  quality  in  the Technical  and  Vocational  Education  and  Training  (TVET)  space. The Awarding  Bodies recognized by NCVET are required to develop the qualifications as per the industry demand and obtain industry validations.
- iv. Directorate  General  of  Training  (DGT) is  strengthening  industry-linked  training  for  ITI students through the Flexi MoU Scheme and Dual System of Training, and by partnering with  leading  tech  companies  like  IBM,  CISCO,  Future  Skill  Rights  Network, AWS,  and
5. Microsoft under CSR  initiatives to enhance industry exposure and relevant skill development.
- v. Courses aligned to National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) also have components of On Job Training (OJT) and employability skills.
- vi. Under NAPS, apprenticeship training and increasing engagement with industrial establishments for undertaking apprenticeship programs is promoted.
- vii. Trainings  of  Trainers  through  National  Skill  Training  Institutes  (NSTIs)  and  Institutes  of Training of Trainers (IToTs).
- viii. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) Portal has been established as a Digital Public Infrastructure for skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
- ix. The  Cabinet  has  also  approved  The  Pradhan  Mantri  Skilling  and  Employability  through Upgraded ITIs(PM SETU) scheme with a focus on upgradation of 1,000 ITIs through a Hub (200)-Spoke (800) model.
11. (c):   The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), through its autonomous institutions-NIESBUD and IIE-has undertaken several targeted initiatives to promote entrepreneurship among tribal communities, women, rural youth, and other disadvantaged groups. These programmes focus on capacity building, enterprise creation, market linkage, and ecosystem strengthening across the country. The key schemes and progress achieved are as under:
1. Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Under this scheme of  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  MSDE  is  facilitating  skilling  training  under  Entrepreneurship Development  Programme  (EDP)  in  Van  Dhan  Vikas  Kendras  (VDVKs)  for  upliftment  of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). As on 26.11.2025, a total of 488 VDVKs have been operationalized and a total of 38,386 beneficiaries have been trained under EDP of this scheme.
2. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) - Under this scheme of Ministry of  Tribal Affairs, MSDE  is  establishing  skilling  centres  in  30  tribal  districts  and  providing training for capacity building and business development of 1000 VDVKs and tribal groups. As on  01.12.2025,  100  Master  Trainer  of  Trainers  (ToT)  and  840  beneficiaries  have  been trained under EDP of this scheme.
3. Swavalambini - a Women Entrepreneurship Programme: MSDE, in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog, launched this scheme in February 2025 in five  States  to  promote  women's  entrepreneurship. As  on  15.11.2025,  302  women  trained under EDP and 82 under Faculty Development Programme (FDP).
4. Pradhan  Mantri  Surya  Ghar  Muft  Bijli  Yojana  Scheme  (PM  SGMBY  Scheme)  The Ministry,  in  collaboration  with  the  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  (MNRE),  is organizing  EDP  on  rooftop  solar  entrepreneurship  under  this  flagship  scheme.  Since inception(July 2024) and till 25.11.2025, 20,439 beneficiaries have been trained under EDP of this scheme.
5. Capacity Building Programme for Fair Price Shop Owners MSDE, in collaboration with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has undertaken a Capacity Building  Programme  for  Fair  Price  Shop  (FPS)  Owners. As  on  25.11.2025,  315  FPS owners have been trained.
6. Establish, Develop and Manage Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) and Incubation Centers (ICs) in North East Region's Educational Institutions -  Under this project,  IIE  established,  developed  and  is  managing 30  EDCs  and  4  ICs  in  North  East Region's  Educational  Institutions  in  collaboration  with  North  East  Council  (NEC).  As  on 25.11.2025, 30fully functional EDCs have been established across 8 NE states; 60 EDC staff , 582 mentors, and 943 participants have been trained, and 150 entrepreneurs selected for incubation. Four bootcamps with 116 attendees have been conducted, and a six-month online incubation  programme  is  underway,  strengthening  the  entrepreneurship  ecosystem  and startup readiness in the North East.

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