How is India skilling its youth? A comprehensive study

ABSTRACT

Skill development is the key instrument for achieving the target of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 in developing countries. The development of human capital in India is of global importance, given the prospects of India being the fastest growing economy of the world and poised to be the country with the largest working-age population in the world. Massive skill development momentum has built up in the country in the recent past, and elucidating this whole human capital development ecosystem in India is the objective of this study. This article traces the evolution of the skilling landscape in India and describes the present scenario on skilling schemes of both National (Central) and State governments in India. This study also discusses the challenges before policymakers interested in the development of human capital through skilling schemes in India and attempts to shed some light on the road ahead for skilling initiatives in the country.

KEYWORDS:

• Skill development policy
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• vocational education

JEL CODE:

• H51
• H53
• I 26
• I28
• J08
• J58

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Sources of data

The data that support the findings of this study are available in Government of India websites of various ministries. These data were derived from the following resources available in the public domain: [data.gov.in]

Notes

1. Though there is a lack of consensus on annual job demand in India, the entry of 8 to 10 million people into the workforce every year is a prudential estimate.

2. In addition to the indicated state schemes, some states are running schemes which have skilling component targeted for women, e.g. Mahila Shakti Nidhi (Rajasthan), Saheli Samanvaya Kendra (Delhi), Women@work (Karnataka), Tejaswini (Jharkhand), Sudakshya (Odisha) and Skill Sakhi (Maharashtra). Thus total number of schemes (centre and states put together) running in India is about 75, which is highest number for any country in the world.