PM Vishwakarma is implemented as a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Government of India with a budget outlay of INR 13,000 Cr. The Scheme is being implemented conjointly by Ministry of Micro Small Medium Entreprises (M/o MSME), Ministry of Skill Development Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Department of Financial Services (DFS), under Ministry of Finance, Government of India. PM Vishwakarma will be implemented for five years up to 2027-28, covering 30 Lakh Vishwakarma.

The scheme aims at improving the quality, as well as reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople so that the Vishwakarma are enabled to move up the value chain in their respective domains and become self-reliant and successful entrepreneurs. Within this scheme, 18 such trades (+10 sub trades) have been identified for the training.

Skill Upgradation
PM Vishwakarma is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the recognized Vishwakarma by training them on the use of modern tools, design elements and domain skilling in their respective trades. Skill upgradation components also cover aspects related to market linkages, enterprise creation and expansion through credit and benefits of digital transactions to immerse them with the contemporary business models.
Skill Upgradation consists of: 
Skill Assessment: This is conducted on Day ‘0’ of the training and is considered as a pre assessment. Post participating in skill assessment, Vishwakarma become eligible for availing toolkit voucher worth INR 15,000/-.
Basic Skilling: This is a 5–7-day or 40 hours training program. The hours are divided into:
a.    Training on Toolkit: 15 Hours 
b.    Digital literacy, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skill training: 25 hours 
c.    During training, banking official authorized by DFS, gives a session on credit linkage/availing of loan and on Day 6, assessment is conducted. 
Advanced Skilling: is 15 days or 120 hours training for Vishwakarma with an assessment on Day 16.  The hours are divided into:
a.    Training on advanced tools: 45 Hours
b.    Digital literacy, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skill training: 75 hours
 
Progress: NSDC has efficiently completed basic training of over 22 lakh Vishwakarma in a quick duration ensuring quality training.
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Training of Trainers 
As a strategic step towards implementation of the PM Vishwakarma scheme, the trainers in the niche traditional identified 28 trades was crucial. Efforts were made to identity and align master artisans, tradesmen and domain experts. 
The Master Trainer, trainers and assessors received training on various aspects, including conducting engaging orientation sessions for program beneficiaries, comprehending the scope of their work, and aiding participants in recognizing entrepreneurial qualities through behavioural exercises and real-life case studies. Moreover, the master trainers will be familiarized with a range of government support schemes that Vishwakarmas can leverage for financial assistance, comprehending the different components of a business plan and coherence with other Government schemes. The training modules were specially designed to ensure trainers are adept on usage of trade specific equipment and tools for practical training. Modern training audio-visual tools will supplement the training.  Practical training in the usage of every tool will be provided. Oriented them on how to improve by inculcating modern designs and time optimization. Master Trainers were also trained on skills and mode of conducting distant teaching mechanisms to ensure trainers across the country have access to quality training and certification.

“The PM Vishwakarma Project's dedicated call centre serves as the vital communication link between traditional artisans and the comprehensive government support ecosystem, delivering transformative accessibility through multilingual assistance. As a strategic enabler of the initiative's mission, this advanced support infrastructure empowers craftspeople across India by providing real-time guidance on scheme benefits, application procedures, and training opportunities while simultaneously gathering invaluable field insights that inform policy refinements. Operating with cutting-edge technology and domain expertise, the call centre transcends mere information dissemination to become an active catalyst for artisan empowerment—bridging digital divides, resolving implementation challenges, and ultimately enhancing the socioeconomic trajectory of millions of skilled workers who represent India's rich cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge systems”.
PM Vishwakarma helpline can be reached at 1800-569-1565, Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
For more information you may contact us at pmvishwakarma@nsdcindia.org 

With the establishment of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2014 the overall objective to promote skilling and entrepreneurship development in India was strengthened. In 2015, MSDE launched its flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), to encourage and promote skill development in the country by providing free short-duration skill training and incentivizing youth for skill certification. 

The Union Cabinet had approved India’s largest Skill Certification Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), on 20th March, 2015. The Scheme was subsequently launched on 15 July, 2015, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day by Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. PMKVY is implemented by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) under the guidance of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). With a vision of a Skilled India, MSDE aims to skill India on a large scale with speed and high standards. 

It is the flagship scheme of MSDE implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.

Short-Term Training (STT) i. This component is imparted at PMKVY Training Centres (TC) according to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). i. It is expected to benefit candidates of Indian nationality who are either school/college dropouts or unemployed Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) i. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a skill certification component to enable Indian youth to take on industry-relevant skill certification, which will help them to secure a better livelihood. j. Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Special Projects:
The Special Projects component of PMKVY envisages the creation of a platform that will facilitate training in special areas and/or premises of Government bodies, corporates or industry bodies, and training in special job roles

PMKVY 4.0 has been designed to make the scheme flexible, inclusive, technology enabled, and market driven resulting in better employability through enhanced industy-connect, On-the-Job training with focus on new age skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, Climate Change, Circular Economy, Green Economy, and Energy Transition.

Since its inception, PMKVY has made notable strides across multiple phases. Under PMKVY 1.0 (2015-16), approximately 19.86 lakh candidates were trained, laying the groundwork for future expansion. PMKVY 2.0 (2016–20) significantly broadened the scheme’s reach, establishing a network of over 7,800 training centers and covering 87% of Indian districts, with the goal of skilling one crore individuals. This phase introduced robust quality assurance measures including biometric attendance, online monitoring, and performance-linked funding. Importantly, over 50% of the trained candidates were women, reflecting the scheme’s commitment to inclusive growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the scheme demonstrated adaptability by offering operational support to training partners. The rollout of PMKVY 3.0 and 4.0 (2022–25) has further prioritized future-ready skills, integrated formal education linkages, and partnered with institutions like IITs and IIMs. Special initiatives such as VIKALP, PM SURYAGHAR, and AMBER 2.0 have been launched to cater to niche and sector-specific skill demands. As of April 2025, 15.3 million candidates have been trained and 2.31 million placed, cementing PMKVY’s role in transforming India’s skill development ecosystem.

PMKVY 4.0 has been designed to make the scheme flexible, inclusive, technology enabled, and market driven resulting in better employability. Broad design principles are outlined below:
Enhance industry-connect, greater reliance on On-the-Job Training in short-term training for learning by doing. 
Emphasis on re-skilling, and upskilling under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through innovation in assessment and better monitoring.
Digitalization of training ecosystem through online integrated systems including registration and counselling
Enlisting multiple Assessment Agencies and Awarding Bodies, reengineering IT systems based on requirement of stakeholders
Creation of a national pool of trainers and assessors to ensure their availability and efficient implementation of training and faster assessment.
Focus on New Age Skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, Climate Change, Circular Economy, Green Economy, and Energy Transition etc.

Policy Framework: MSDE will provide the overall policy framework for the implementation of PMKVY 4.0. 
Regulatory framework: National Council of Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) will provide a unified regulatory framework, including recognizing Awarding Bodies (ABs) and Assessment Agencies (AAs) for National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned courses. 
Implementing Agency: National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will support MSDE in effectively implementing the scheme as per approved guidelines by providing technical and knowledge support in various aspects of the scheme as mandated by MSDE. 
Training Providers: 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 of candidates. 
Sector Skill Councils: Sector Skill Councils will promote industry connect through skill gap studies, curriculum development, facilitating On-the-Job Training (OJT), Training of Trainers and Assessors and support in overall implementation of the scheme.

The scheme envisaged Training of Trainers and Assessors as a crucial piece for skill training of youth. It aimed to create an effective and enabling ecosystem for providing quality and timely training of trainers and assessors. 
A total of 1,07,000+ trainers and assessors have been certified under the scheme to take up skill trainings and conduct assessments. Compact Training Modules were developed and imparted in residential, online and hybrid modes for Training of Trainers/Assessors. A pool of quality Master Trainers and Master Assessors have also been expanded in all NSQF aligned job-roles ensuring geographic coverage imparting quality training in regional languages.
To meet the increasing needs to trainers and assessors spread, the scheme introduced Training of trainers/ assessors through institutes of eminence, national training institutions, Industries, etc. Institutes like – IITs, Indian School of Mining Dhanbad, Directorate of Indian Army Veterans, Center for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP), National Academy of Construction, Skill Universities.

The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) is a government initiative in India that incentivizes establishments to hire apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. It aims to promote on-the-job training and skill development, providing financial support to both employers and apprentices.

NAPS is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to institutionalize apprenticeships as a mainstream career pathway — blending learning with earning. With a sharp focus on job-readiness and industry-aligned skilling, NSDC, through NAPS, enables both youth empowerment and industrial productivity.

• 38 lakh+ Apprentices Engaged • 50,000+ Employers Participating Across Sectors • ₹980 crore+ Disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer • 169 Third-Party Aggregators Empanelled • 700+ Industry-Relevant Apprenticeship Courses • 92% CAGR in Apprentice Engagement • 32% CAGR in Establishments Participating • 45% Apprentices from Diverse Socio-Economic Backgrounds • 21% Women Apprentices Engaged • 35 lakh e-KYC Verifications • 30 lakh Aadhaar-Based Beneficiary IDs Generated

Prominent Employers Onboard: Mahindra, Dixon, Toyota, Apollo Pharmacy, Maruti Suzuki, Aditya Birla, Reliance, Barbeque Nation — and many more!

Industry Engagement & Enablement • End-to-end onboarding and handholding of establishments • Customised apprenticeship frameworks aligned to business needs • Access to a nationwide talent pool • Regulatory compliance and operational support

• Nationwide awareness campaigns, Apprenticeship Melas & Rozgar Melas • Partnerships with SSCs, TPAs, and industry bodies • Success stories and best practices from the field • Promoting Apprenticeship with schools and colleges

• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to apprentices up to 1500 rupees per month • Transparent, timely fund tracking via digital platform

• Unified Apprenticeship Portal for real-time operations • Features: Online registration, contracts, analytics dashboard, Aadhaar-PFMS integration

• Training for establishments, candidates & intermediaries • Knowledge sessions, policy guidance, SOPs & grievance redressal

From urban metros to rural towns, NAPS is building a future-ready India — one apprentice at a time. By bridging the gap between education and employment, NAPS is reshaping industry-academia linkages, enhancing productivity, and catalyzing inclusive growth.  

Ready to Join the Apprenticeship journey?

Visit:&nbsp;www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched by the Government of India in January 2023 with the aim of making India a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources like solar and wind, making it a clean alternative to fossil fuels. There is a potential for creation of 6,00,000 jobs across the Green Hydrogen value chain by 2030.

The scheme aims to develop the skills of youth, considering the emerging employment opportunities in the growing Green Hydrogen sector in India.  The scheme shall focus on skilling / re-skilling of manpower and help develop an ecosystem for carrying out training covering key aspects of the Green Hydrogen value chain along with fundamental principles of entrepreneurship.

The scheme shall undertake the following activities for the development of the necessary skillset: 

• Short Term Training (STT)
• Up-skilling along with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
• Creation of Centres of Excellence (CoEs)
• Enabling curriculum based long duration training at Schools, ITI, Polytechnics and HEIs

• Undertake comprehensive skill gap analysis covering key areas of the Green Hydrogen ecosystem on a continuous basis.
• Creation/ updating of a registry of skills as required by the Green Hydrogen value chain.
• Design and develop curricular elements for use in schools, Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), Polytechnics and HEIs at various levels and segments of the Green Hydrogen value chain.
• Develop Qualification Packs (QPs), and training content including training manuals and online study resources for Green Hydrogen and allied sectors for use of STT and up-skilling courses.
• Encourage private sector participation, with a greater focus on training in industries and On-the-Job Training (OJT).
• Enable cross utilization of available infrastructure at schools, HEIs and government institutions for delivery of skill training.
• Laydown criteria and mechanism for identification of institutions who would deliver the skilling courses.
• Creation of certified pool of trainers across the Green Hydrogen value chain.
• Implement learner-centric training programs to train and certify participants on approved courses on Green Hydrogen in consultation with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).  The training program shall include all components of training including placement tracking.
• Facilitate creation of one or more model CoEs for enabling higher level skilling, Training of Trainers (ToT) and support content creation on the Green Hydrogen ecosystem.

The Target Allocation process is carried out by collecting proposals from interested partners. These proposals are then taken through a structured screening and approval process, during which their alignment with strategic goals, feasibility, and potential impact is evaluated.

NSDC International provides institutional credit to individuals for skill development courses conducted by it. Currently, Japanese and German language skill training program course fees are covered under the Skill Loan Scheme.

India’s skill development ecosystem was inaccessible to many users due to scattered information, outdated systems and lack of digital infrastructure. Many training centers lacked geospatial mapping, making it difficult for users to find nearby opportunities. SIDH resolved this by introducing the Skill India Map, a geotagging-enabled feature that allows learners to instantly locate skill development resources such as training centers, apprenticeships, and job opportunities. This visual interface enhances geographic accessibility and enables policymakers to monitor underserved areas and targeting interventions where they are needed most.
A major barrier to accessibility was the unavailability of real-time updates and engagement. Learners often missed critical communications about enrolment, course schedules and certification programs. To address this, SIDH uses multiple channels such as WhatsApp, SMS and email to keep users informed and engaged. This proactive approach to communicate ensure learners remain updated and can plan their career advancement without missing key opportunities.
SIDH is designed as a mobile-first and multilingual platform, ensuring accessibility across all types of devices and accommodating India’s vast linguistic and regional diversity. Whether it’s a job seeker in an urban center or a learner in a village, SIDH delivers a seamless and consistent user experience, bridging digital divides and making skill development opportunities available to everyone, everywhere.

One of the less visible—but critical—barriers to skill development has been cost, particularly in entrepreneurship. Aspiring entrepreneurs often grappled with time-consuming processes for setting up businesses, securing registrations, and ensuring tax compliance. SIDH simplifies this by integrating with key national systems like PAN, TAN, and GST, by significantly reducing the time, cost, and friction involved in launching and managing a business. This seamless transition from learning to livelihood makes entrepreneurship more affordable and attainable.
SIDH also brings affordability through digitization of services. Traditional processes involved physical paperwork, in-person visits to centers, and third-party intermediaries – each adding layers of expense. By digitizing end-to-end processes from registration to certification and directly integrating with government schemes, SIDH eliminates unnecessary 
intermediaries and makes processes cost-effective for users and stakeholders. Furthermore, SIDH provides free access to high-quality training programs aligned with the latest Qualification Packs (QPs) and evolving industry needs. This eliminates the need for learners to rely on expensive private institutions that may or may not offer industry-relevant content.

The earlier skill ecosystem lacked inclusivity across multiple dimensions regional, institutional, and demographic lines. Ministries, State departments, and skilling agencies often worked in silos, leading to fragmented efforts and missed opportunities for convergence. SIDH solves this by serving as a unified national platform that brings together skilling schemes from Ministries and State governments under one digital roof. Ministries and departments are equipped with tools to upload and manage their schemes, promoting collaboration and reducing duplication.
Another major barrier to inclusion was the absence of a standardized digital identity. SIDH has overcome this through Digitally Verified Credentials and QR-code-enabled Digital CVs. These secure, tamper-proof credentials provide authentic identity verification for learners, trainers, and assessors alike. For individuals from marginalized communities or rural areas can present their qualifications confidently, even in the absence of conventional identification.
Additionally, SIDH enhances inclusivity through its AI- and ML-driven recommendation engine, which ensures that every user, regardless of background, receives personalized guidance. This helps people with diverse aspirations and educational levels access opportunities aligned with their individual skillsets, interests or aspirations.

Another major challenge in the earlier skill ecosystem was the lack of discoverability—of training programs, qualifications, jobs, or the correct learning pathways. Learners often continued with outdated Qualification Packs (QPs), resulting in skill mismatches and inadequate job readiness. SIDH brings all training programs in line with current and validated QPs, and the automatically restricting access to outdated modules. This ensures that learners receive industry-relevant training aligned with today’s workforce demands.
Another significant improvement is the integration of a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) powered by AI and machine learning. This feature not only helps users discover the most suitable learning and career paths but also empowers policymakers with real-time insights into emerging job trends, making the entire ecosystem more responsive and data driven.
Adding a visual dimension to discoverability, the Skill India Map uses geospatial technology to help users identify opportunities based on their physical location. Whether a user is looking for the nearest training center or the closest available apprenticeship, the map-based interface provides an intuitive, user-friendly experience to explore opportunities.

Trust was a serious challenge due to lack of transparency, poor data management, and weak verification protocols. The absence of a Data Retention Policy led to confusion about what data to be stored, for how long and where. SIDH addresses this through a robust Learning Management System (LMS) that tracks every stage of a learner’s journey, from registration to certification. It ensures compliance with data protection norms, secure storage, and encryption—building a reliable and transparent framework.
The lack of operational clarity around the Aadhaar-enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) had made attendance records susceptible to errors. SIDH resolved this by implementing Aadhaar-based eKYC and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), ensuring that only verified users can access the platform and participate in programs. This strengthens accountability and significantly enhances users’ confidence in the system.
Trust is further reinforced by the transition from paper-based certificates – often vulnerable to loss or forgery – to digitally verifiable certificates. Learners can now easily share their credentials and achievements with employers, who can instantly verify their authenticity online. This shift not only enhances the hiring process but also promotes transparency and fairness in the job market.