Lok Sabha Question No. 3794 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Skill Gap in Traditional Arts
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Dr. Anand Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3794

ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## SKILL GAP IN TRADITIONAL ARTS

† 3794.  DR. ANAND KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether a skill gap is emerging due to the lack of structured training in traditional and local arts/handicrafts  across  various  regions  which  is  adversely  affecting  the  preservation  and expansion of these art forms;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to initiate special skill development programmes at the regional level to provide training to youth in local and traditional handicrafts under the Skill India Mission and other schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is any proposal to engage skilled artisans as trainers/mentors by providing them with employment opportunities under these programmes; and
- (d) whether any integrated action plan is being prepared to ensure preservation, promotion and local employment generation through this initiative for traditional arts and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): Traditional and local arts and crafts present strong potential for livelihood generation and  cultural  preservation.  Through  targeted  skilling,  recognition  of  traditional  artisans,  and market-linked  training  initiatives,  the  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  is supporting the revitalisation and expansion of these art forms across regions.

Skill Gap studies are conducted by SSC from time to time which provide information on the skills needed  and  the  skill  gaps  in  various  sectors.  Such  studies  guide  the  interventions  of  the Government aimed at preparing the workforce as per the industry needs. As per the skill gap study for handicrafts and carpets conducted during 2023-24 by Handicraft and Carpet Sector Skill Council, there would be need of about 18.55 lakh skilled manpower over the short term (2-3 years) and about 90.95 lakh skilled manpower over the long term (9-10 years). In addition, District Skill Committees (DSCs) are also mandated to formulate District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) for promoting decentralized planning and implementation at the grassroots, identifying sectors with employment opportunities as well as the associated demand for skilling in the district, and for  mapping  the  available  facilities  for  Skill  Training.  The  skill  development  programs  of  the Government are designed and implemented to bridge identified skill gaps across sectors.

To ensure the preservation, promotion and local employment generation in the traditional arts and handicrafts, the Government has inter-alia taken the following initiatives:

(i) Under the Skill India Mission (SIM) , the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)  delivers  skill,  re-skill  and  up-skill  training  through  an  extensive  network  of  skill development  centres  under  various  schemes,  viz.  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan 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. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready and equipped with industry relevant skills, including traditional and local arts/handicrafts.

- o The government has prioritized the development of artisans and craftsmen by offering skill enhancement programs tailored to their unique needs. Programs under PMKVY certify and upskill artisans and craftsmen based on their existing expertise, and specialized training. The concerned Sector Skill Councils collaborate with industry experts to ensure the training aligns with market trends and consumer demands.
- o Under  PMKVY  4.0,  tailored  training  programs  address  the  specific  needs  of  rural communities. Further, under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of PMKVY, workshops are conducted across rural areas to assess and certify the existing skills of workers in traditional  sectors  such  as  agriculture  and  handicrafts.  Since  inception  of  the  PMKVY Scheme, 5,21,303 candidates have been trained in handicraft and carpet sectors up to 31.12.2025.
- o Under JSS scheme, 6,57,950 candidates have been trained in the job roles pertaining to art and handicraft sector from 2018-19  till 31.12.2025.

(ii) Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched PM Vishwakarma Scheme in  September 2023 to provide end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and tools and to uplift the socio-economic status of traditional artisans and craftsmen by providing them with skill  upgradation  training,  access  to modern  tools,  financial assistance through credit support, and market linkages to enhance their productivity and quality of products. MSDE is responsible for implementation of the Skilling Component of the Scheme. Under skill development component of PM Vishwakarma, the basic and advanced training, tool kits, and credit support post training are provided to these traditional artisans and craftspeople covering 18 trades. Since the inception of the scheme, 23,97,485 candidates have been trained under the scheme till 5 th  March 2026.

(iii) Ministry of Textiles is implementing Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) with the objective of providing demand driven and placement-oriented skilling programmes to supplement the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organized textiles and related sectors like tradition textiles, handloom, and handicrafts. Under the scheme, more than 5 lakh candidates have been trained across the textiles value chain including handicrafts.

*****