March 31 deadline leaves enrolment under PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana halfway

Hundreds of training providers have failed to enrol fresh batches of students under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.O, the flagship programme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, across India as the deadline set by the ministry for the purpose ended on March 31, 2024.

In a representation to the ministry, the trainers grouped under All India Training Providers Association (AITPA) said they were not able to clear necessary formalities to carry out the enrolment on time due to the short timeframe allotted to them. They allege that Sector Skill Councils established by the ministry do not have adequate infrastructure or capacity to complete the training of trainers (ToT), a prerequisite to get approval to enrol students in training centres. The training providers also say the agencies responsible to inspect the training centres and give approvals are taking several days to conduct the inspections. They also complain that many of the inspectors who undertake such inspections are inexperienced resulting in further delays.

Implemented between FY 2022-2026, PMKVY 4.0 under the umbrella scheme of the ‘Skill India Programme' aims to encourage and promote skill development in the country by providing free short-duration skill training and incentivising youth for skill certification. The focus areas are new age skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, climate change, circular economy, green economy, and energy transition.

The government has identified Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), PMKVY Training Centres, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), skill hubs (schools, colleges, higher education institutes), training centres of other ministries/department, training centres of industry partners and private training providers, etc., for training eligible candidates. While the government centres are continuing with the programme, the problem of enrolment is mostly affecting the private partners.

According to the training providers, the implementation of the code of conduct in the entire country before the General Elections 2024 has also made enrolment of students very slow from March 15 onwards. “When we meet students and tell them about the curriculum, people think we are promoting a particular party. Therefore, we are now getting pamphlets printed without the photo of the Prime Minister, through which we will talk to the students about the course. This process is quite long and slow. We need enough time so that the right students can pursue the course,” AITPA office bearers says in their representation to the ministry.

The ministry states that under the PMKVY 1.0, launched in 2015, more than 19 lakh candidates were trained. Under PMKVY 2.0 (2016-2020), 1.10 crore candidates were trained. PMKVY 3.0 launched on January 15, 2021 targeted 8 lakh youth across the country. AITPA has sought an extension of the deadline to enroll students under PMKVY 4.0 till 31 December 2024.