Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana |ForumIAS

News: The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana has completed 10 years successfully since its launch in July 15, 2015. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

About Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

It is the flagship scheme to encourage and promote skill development in the country by providing free short duration skill training and incentivizing this by providing monetary rewards to youth for skill certification.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Launched in: It was launched in 2015 and is currently in its fourth phase (PMKVY 4.0).
Aim: The aim of the scheme is to boost both industry and employability of youths.
Phases of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
- The first phase (PMKVY 1.0) was launched in 2015 as a pilot, focusing on short-term training and aiming to skill 24 lakh youth across the country.
- The second phase (PMKVY 2.0) ran from 2016 to 2020, featuring an expanded outreach with a target of skilling 1 crore youth.
  - This phase introduced greater emphasis on placement and the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to certify informally acquired skills.
- The third phase (PMKVY 3.0) was implemented from 2020 to 2021, emphasizing a decentralized and sector-specific approach.
  - This phase also enhanced digital and hybrid training options and encouraged stronger state partnerships.
- The fourth phase (PMKVY 4.0) started in 2021 and is ongoing.
  - It continues to prioritize alignment with market needs, digital skilling, rural outreach, and overall strengthening of the country’s workforce development.
- Innovative initiatives by PMKVY:
  - Special Projects: Targeted skilling for marginalized groups included training 2,500 Bru-tribe candidates in Tripura, jail inmates in Assam and Manipur, and 13,834 (70% women) under the PANKH project across 18 states.
  - Traditional Crafts & Upskilling: Under PMKVY 3.0, 2,243 women were trained in Jammu & Kashmir’s Namda craft led by the Handicraft and Carpet Sector Skill Council.
  - Mainstreaming Skilling: PMKVY supports flagship government initiatives (e.g., PM Surya Ghar, Vibrant Villages Programme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Jal Jeevan Mission, Green Hydrogen Mission), embedding skill development into these schemes for broad impact.
  - COVID-19 Response: Over 1.2 lakh health workers were trained through a Customized Crash Course Programme for COVID Warriors.
  - Skill Hub Initiative: Over 1.23 lakh youth trained using schools and colleges as vocational hubs, aligning with NEP 2020 (National Education Policy).
  - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Informal workers’ skills are formally recognized, boosting employability without lengthy training.
  - Digital & Outcome-Driven Reforms: The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) tracks training digitally, ensures Aadhaar-based validation, and links payments to performance.
  - Academic Mobility: PMKVY 4.0 integrates skill qualifications with the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), enabling transfer of credits between skill and formal education.

Note: Skill India Programme: In February 2025, the restructured ‘Skill India Programme’ was approved for 2022-23 to 2025-26, merging–