Schemes & Initiatives

Sharing the vision of making young Indians ready for employment, the Skill Impact Bond is the first development impact bond in India dedicated to skills training and job placement. Its objective is to benefit 50,000 young Indians over four years, with 60% of the beneficiaries being women. This innovative outcomes-based financing tool uses private sector capital and expertise, focusing on job placement and retention rather than merely on training and certification. The collaboration also seeks to enhance India’s technical and vocational education ecosystem through knowledge exchange, data generation, and the mainstreaming of best practices.

The National Entrepreneurs Empowerment Drive (NEED) is a flagship entrepreneurship initiative of NSDC aimed at transforming skilled and aspiring youth into successful micro-entrepreneurs through a structured, market-linked ecosystem. Designed to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs, NEED connects aspiring entrepreneurs with industry-led business opportunities, institutional support, and access to formal finance.

Formally launched by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Education, Govt of India and Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, in Jaipur, on May 1, 2026, NEED is built on a powerful partnership between aspiring youth and Anchor Partners.

At the heart of the initiative are ambitious young entrepreneurs eager to build sustainable livelihoods, supported by established businesses that serve as Anchor Partners. These industry partners play a critical role in turning entrepreneurial aspirations into viable enterprises by providing support to budding entrepreneurs.

The initiative seeks to:

• Bridge the gap between skilling and sustainable income generation.
• Promote entrepreneurship-led livelihood generation across rural and semi-urban India
• Create structured pathways from skilling to enterprise creation
• Provide aspiring entrepreneurs with access to industry-aligned business opportunities
• Facilitate formal credit access through bankable and market-linked business models
• Build a scalable ecosystem that integrates government, industry, financial institutions, and implementation partners
• Strengthen local economies through decentralized enterprise development at the Panchayat level

Beyond recognition and reach, a partnership opens access to a suite of practical enablers -each designed to strengthen your programmes and widen the path to a career for every learner you serve.

Anchor Partners are established industry players that integrate micro-entrepreneurs into their business ecosystem by providing standardized business models, operational systems, supply chain support, branding, and market access. These partners play a central role in making entrepreneurship more structured, scalable, and sustainable for first-generation entrepreneurs.

Anchor Partners support entrepreneurs not only during training but also throughout the enterprise lifecycle, helping them establish viable and market-connected businesses. Currently, NSDC has onboarded 15+ Anchor Partners.

NEED follows a structured candidate lifecycle designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs from awareness to enterprise establishment.

• Stage 1: Awareness & Mobilisation
  Candidates are identified and mobilised at the Panchayat level
• Stage 2: Psychometric Assessment & Profiling
  Assessments to evaluate entrepreneurial aptitude, risk appetite, and sector suitability.
• Stage 3: Training & Enterprise Readiness
  Up to 2-months training on technical, entrepreneurship, and business skills.
• Stage 4: Credit Linkage & DPR Facilitation
  DPR preparation and loan sanction through partner banks
• Stage 5: Enterprise Go-Live & Post-Launch Support
  Enterprise setup, handholding, compliance support, and growth enablement

• Job creators, not job seekers
• Youth empowerment
• Formalization of micro-enterprises
• Access to finance & market
• Long-term handholding for sustainable enterprise creation

E-mail: project.udyam@nsdcindia.org

India is home to one of the world's largest youth populations — a powerful demographic dividend. Rapid
technological change, digital transformation, automation, Industry 4.0 and shifting labour-market demands
have created an urgent need for a workforce equipped with industry-relevant skills. Traditional classroom
education alone can no longer keep pace with employer expectations, which is why competency-based
training, lifelong learning, digital literacy, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies have moved to the
centre of India's skilling agenda.

A skilled workforce is fundamental to sustainable economic growth, higher productivity, stronger
investment inflows and India's positioning as a global talent hub. Under the Skill India Mission and
Atmanirbhar Bharat, the focus has shifted to building a future-ready workforce capable of meeting both
domestic and global employment opportunities.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship, outcome-based skill-training scheme of the
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), implemented under Skill India through the
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). It is India's largest skill-certification scheme, designed to
mobilise large numbers of Indian youth into outcome-based skill training so that they become employable
and can earn a sustainable livelihood.

The scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 15th July 2015 — World Youth Skills Day — with the
ambition of skilling one crore (10 million) youth across the country. PMKVY equips candidates trained at
state-of-the-art centres, at home, or under master craftspersons, to meet the needs of international
markets, national industry and rural livelihoods alike, marking the first major step towards making India the
skill capital of the world.

Evolution of the Scheme

• PMKVY 2015–16
  The pilot phase that established the outcome-based training and certification model.
• PMKVY 2016–2020
  A modified, improved version with stronger quality parameters; approved by the Union Cabinet on 15th July 2016 with a budgetary outlay of INR 12,000 crore, to be implemented jointly by the Centre and States through Centrally-Sponsored Centrally-Managed (CSCM) and Centrally-Sponsored State-Managed (CSSM) components.
• PMKVY 3.0 (2020–2022)
  Introduced district-level skilling plans and stronger convergence with State Skill Development Missions.
• PMKVY 4.0 (launched 2023)
  The current phase, emphasising industry alignment, technology-enabled delivery, future skills and outcome-based implementation.

PMKVY 4.0 is the latest phase of the Government of India's flagship skilling scheme, implemented by MSDE
through NSDC. It delivers industry-aligned, demand-driven and technology-enabled skill development
opportunities to India's youth, strengthening employability, entrepreneurship and career progression.

Launched in 2023 with an emphasis on quality, flexibility and outcome-based skilling, PMKVY 4.0 aligns
training with the needs of modern industry while promoting lifelong learning. The scheme integrates digital
technologies, blended learning, on-the-job training and stronger industry partnerships so that candidates
graduate with practical, job-ready skills.

Training is offered across both traditional sectors and emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics,
Internet of Things (IoT), Coding, Drones, 3D Printing, Electric Vehicles, Green Jobs, Semiconductor
Manufacturing, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity.

Key Objectives

• Provide industry-relevant, competency-based skill training to youth.
• Enhance employability through demand-driven, placement-oriented training.
• Promote entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities.
• Strengthen industry participation in curriculum design, delivery and assessment.
• Expand access through digital platforms, blended learning and flexible models.
• Enable Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced workers.
• Support inclusion — women, disadvantaged groups and underserved regions.
• Align skilling with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF).
• Industry-led curriculum aligned to National Occupational Standards (NOS).
• Strong focus on emerging technologies and future skills.
• Digital and blended learning through the Skill India Digital ecosystem.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT) and apprenticeship integration wherever applicable.
• Quality-assured training centres and standardised assessments.
• Digital certification with verifiable credentials.
• Greater convergence with government, education and industry stakeholders.
• Data-driven monitoring, candidate tracking and outcome-based implementation.
• Dedicated entrepreneurship promotion and career-guidance services.

PMKVY 4.0 offers candidates three distinct pathways into skilled employment — each designed for a
different starting point, from first-time learners to experienced workers and special target groups.

Short-Term Training (STT)
Structured, industry-aligned training delivered to unemployed youth and school/college dropouts, opening
pathways to both wage and self-employment. Courses are NSQF-aligned and typically run 300–600 hours,
with longer durations offered where industry or sectoral demand requires it. Training is delivered through
accredited and affiliated training centres, and On-the-Job Training (OJT) is a mandatory component as
required by NCVET, with duration depending on the job role.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL certifies the skills of individuals who have already acquired competencies through informal learning or
hands-on work experience. Following due assessment, candidates receive industry-relevant certification;
those wishing to upskill can undertake additional coursework to qualify for certification at a higher level.
Special Projects
Project-based, short-term skilling initiatives that respond to the needs of marginalised and vulnerable
groups, difficult geographies, and specialised training requirements that fall outside the scope of regular
short-term programmes. Special Projects may also target new-age job roles built around future skills, and
can be residential or non-residential, with certain exemptions available subject to Executive Committee
approval.

While each pathway has its own detailed process, candidates typically move through the following broad
stages from enrolment to placement.

PMKVY 4.0 is designed to remove financial and logistical barriers to skilling, particularly for women, persons
with disabilities and candidates from underserved regions.

Free Skill Training: Candidates receive industry-relevant skill training at no cost; all training expenses are borne
by the scheme.
Free Assessment & Certification: Candidates are assessed by authorised Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and receive
nationally recognised certification on successful completion.
Free Uniform & Induction Kit: Every candidate is provided a uniform and induction kit to support effective
participation in training.
Boarding & Lodging Support: Residential facilities are provided for women, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs),
candidates from Special Areas under Common Norms, candidates in Aspirational, Border, Tribal-dominated and
LWE-affected districts (where applicable), and participants in Special Projects requiring residential training.
Conveyance / Transportation Assistance: Women and PwDs attending non-residential training receive
transportation support as per Common Norms, reducing travel-related financial barriers.
Additional Support for PwDs: PwD candidates receive additional financial assistance of ₹5,000 towards assistive
devices, aids and appliances.
Accidental Insurance Coverage: All candidates are covered under accidental insurance for one year during the
training period.
Digital Biometric Attendance: Attendance is recorded via the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System
(AEBAS), ensuring transparency.
Post-Certification Tracking: Certified candidates continue to be tracked to monitor employment and career
progression, helping assess training outcomes.

Payout Tranches — STT / Special Projects (current structure)

Payout Tranches — RPL

• Official PMKVY portal: https://www.skillindiadigital.gov.in/user-manuals
• Skill India Digital user manuals: https://www.skillindiadigital.gov.in/user-manuals

For implementation queries, candidates and partners may reach out to the National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC) through the official PMKVY and Skill India Digital channels for the latest contact details.

The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-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.

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

Ready to Join the Apprenticeship journey?

Visit: www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in

The National Green Hydrogen Mission is a Government of India initiative aimed at positioning India as a global hub for the production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. The mission seeks to accelerate clean energy transition, strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and create large-scale employment opportunities across emerging green industries. The Mission targets the development of a robust green hydrogen ecosystem supported by innovation, manufacturing, infrastructure, and skills development. [pib.gov.in], [bioenergytimes.com]

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As the Principal Implementing Agency for the skill development component of the
National Green Hydrogen Mission, NSDC works on the following scheme objectives:

• Individuals Trained: 1200+

• Candidates Certified: 1100+

• QPs Developed: 43

• Trainers Certified: 403