Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) or otherwise known as Pradhan Mantri Youth Training Program ^[1][2] is a skill development initiative scheme of the Government of India for recognition and standardisation of skills.^[3]

Demanding a thorough investigation into “betrayal of youth”, Congress on Monday claimed that the CAG has exposed a “massive scam” in the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) which runs into thousands of crores with alleged fake beneficiaries and absentee trainers. Congress leader and former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan said the recent CAG report on PMKVY from 2015 to 2022 found that the govt distributed Rs 10,000 crore in the seven years, but 94.5% of beneficiaries’ bank accounts turned out to be fake, 96% had fake mobile numbers, and 97% had fraud assessor details. He said information about 61 lakh trainers under the scheme was incomplete. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cag-has-exposed-massive-scam-in-kaushal-vikas-yojana-congress/articleshow/126488127.cms

The aim of the PMKVY scheme is to encourage aptitude towards employable skills and to increase working efficiency of probable and existing daily wage earners, by giving monetary awards and rewards and by providing quality training to them. Average award amount per person has been kept as ₹8,000 (US$83). Those wage earners already possessing a standard level of skill will be given recognition as per scheme and average award amount for them is ₹2000 to ₹2500. In the initial year, a target to distribute ₹15 billion (US$160 million) has been laid down for the scheme. Training programmes have been worked out on the basis of National Occupational Standards (NOS) and qualification packs specifically developed in various sectors of skills. For this qualification plans and quality plans have been developed by various Sector Skill Councils (SSC) created with participation of Industries. National Skill Development Council (NSDC) has been made coordinating and driving agency for the same.^[4] The training given to the youth under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana is free.^[5]

An outlay of ₹120 billion (US$1.3 billion) has been approved by the cabinet for this project.^[6] The scheme has a target to train 1 crore Indian youth from 2016-20.^[6] As of 18 July 2016, 17.93 lakh candidates were trained out of 18 lakh who enrolled for the scheme.^[4]

PMKVY’s emphasis on industry-aligned skills and public-private partnerships inspired states to establish training programs tailored to regional economic needs. States adopted PMKVY’s model of short-term courses and placement support to address local unemployment challenges. In Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress Party government introduced skill training through village secretariats under schemes like YSR Cheyutha and Jagananna Thodu, offering courses in IT and hospitality in Vijayawada and Guntur. Tamil Nadu’s Naan Mudhalvan scheme trains youth in Chennai for technology and corporate roles. Karnataka’s Yuva Nidhi initiative in Bengaluru provides skill-based training for manufacturing industries. Uttar Pradesh’s Skill Development Mission offers vocational training in Lucknow, focusing on trades like welding. Maharashtra’s Maharashtra State Skill Development Society in Mumbai supports youth with training in retail and logistics. These programs adapt PMKVY’s model to regional employment needs.