Skill India Mission is scaling up with new training centers across India, targeting youth employability through industry-aligned vocational courses. Backed by government and private partnerships, these centers aim to train millions in emerging fields like AI, green energy, and IT, fostering economic growth and global competitiveness. Challenges like infrastructure gaps and social biases persist, but the mission is transforming lives.
Skill India Mission Bolsters Youth Skilling with New Centers
The Skill India Mission, launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continues to gain momentum with the recent inauguration of new training centers across India, aimed at empowering the nation’s youth. On August 7, 2024, Canon India opened two Skill Development Centres in Kapashera, Delhi, and Andheri East, Mumbai, targeting Below Poverty Line (BPL) youth aged 18 to 25. These centers aim to achieve a 70% job placement rate in high-demand sectors like IT, hospitality, and media, impacting over 2,500 individuals over the next five years. Similarly, on February 20, 2024, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched Odisha’s first Skill India Centre in Sambalpur, focusing on trades like Media & Entertainment, Leather, Tourism & Hospitality, and IT-ITeS, with a capacity to train over 1,200 students annually.
These developments align with the mission’s goal to train over 400 million youth by 2023, a target now extended to 2025 under the evolved Skill India Programme. The initiative integrates flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, which has trained 1.37 crore candidates and certified over 1.1 crore as of January 2025. PMKVY 4.0 emphasizes on-the-job training (OJT) and introduces 400+ new courses in emerging technologies such as AI, 5G, cybersecurity, green hydrogen, and drone technology. These courses, ranging from 7.5 to 30 hours, are designed to meet National Occupational Standards (NOS) and ensure industry relevance.
In Uttar Pradesh, the UP Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) has been a key player since its inception in 2013. It targets youth aged 14 to 35, offering free, short-term, employment-oriented training, particularly for those with limited education beyond Class 5. Recent updates include partnerships with industry giants like Larsen & Toubro, Maruti Suzuki, and Raymonds to establish training centers in districts like Mau, providing courses in trades such as electrician, welder, fitter, and fashion design. Monthly employment fairs and mobilization camps in villages and schools further enhance outreach, ensuring at least 70% of trainees secure jobs.
The mission also prioritizes inclusivity, with 30% of training targets reserved for women and 20% for minorities. In rural areas, programs like Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) focus on agriculture, handicrafts, and entrepreneurship, while urban centers offer technical training in IT, electronics, and soft skills. Mobile training units and online platforms like the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) bridge the urban-rural divide, offering courses in coding, digital marketing, and AI.
Private sector collaboration is a cornerstone of this expansion. Companies like Samsung, Tata Power, and Reliance have established skill centers in states like Karnataka, Delhi, and Gujarat, respectively. For instance, Samsung opened a Skill Centre in Karnataka, while Tata Power set up a Green Energy hub in Delhi. The Industry-Academia Conclave 2.0 in Nagpur emphasized AI and automation, signaling a shift toward future-ready skills. A ₹60,000 crore national scheme is also upgrading 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to bolster infrastructure.
Despite these strides, challenges remain. Social biases against manual labor and vocational training persist, discouraging participation. Infrastructure gaps, particularly in rural areas, and mismatches between training and industry needs continue to hinder progress. The Skill India Mission is addressing these through regular assessments of training centers, feedback from trainees and employers, and data-driven employment outcome tracking.
Internationally, the mission is fostering global competitiveness. The first Skill India International Centre in Bhubaneswar, launched in April 2022, prepares youth for overseas jobs, while partnerships with countries like Japan and the UK facilitate skill transfers and qualification recognition. Japan’s private sector, for instance, is establishing six institutes of manufacturing to train 30,000 youth over a decade in Japanese-style practices.
The mission’s digital arm, the Skill India Portal, streamlines access to training, certification, and job opportunities. It allows candidates to locate nearby centers, register for courses, and receive digital certificates verifiable by employers. Over 6 crore youth have been empowered through various schemes since 2015, with 45% being women and a significant share from marginalized communities. Rozgar Melas, or job fairs, have distributed 51,000 job letters recently, showcasing strong government-employer synergy.
Disclaimer: This article is based on recent reports, government announcements, and credible sources covering the Skill India Mission and UP Skill Development Mission. Information is sourced from web data, including government portals, news outlets, and official statements. Readers are advised to verify details through official channels like the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) or the Skill India Digital Hub for the latest updates.