Parliament Question: District-Specific Skill Development Plan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *320 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 DISTRICT-SPECIFIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT PLAN †*320. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to

state:

(a) whether the Government has formulated a District-Specific Skill Development Plan (DSDP) aligned with the industrial, agricultural, service and local economic activities of each district in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether special skill training programmes have been sanctioned for Rajasthan, particularly the Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha Constituency, keeping in view the local requirements such as agro- based industries, food processing, renewable energy, logistics, sports infrastructure, tourism, animal husbandry and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs);

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the impact of district-specific skill training on local employment and the human resource requirements of industries, if so, the key findings thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to implement the said DSDP for each district by integrating it with District Industries Centre, MSME, National Skill Development Corporation

(NSDC), State Government and local industries and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *320 ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 REGARDING DISTRICT-SPECIFIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT PLAN ASKED BY SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA

(a) and (e) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has institutionalised a decentralised skill planning framework through District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) and State Skill Development Plans (SSDPs). Under the World Bank-assisted SANKALP programme, District Skill Committees (DSCs) were constituted under the chairpersonship of the respective District Magistrate/District Collector/Deputy Commissioner for preparation of DSDPs at the district level. The DSDPs are designed to align skilling interventions with the industrial, agricultural, service and local economic activities of districts by identifying sectors with employment potential and demand for skilled manpower. These plans capture district-specific economic profile, demographic trends, workforce characteristics, employer demand, migration patterns, available infrastructure, training capacity and future growth sectors. The plans are prepared through needs assessment, skill mapping, demand aggregation and gap analysis, supported by consultations with industry representatives, training institutions and other local stakeholders. During FY 2024- 25, 746 DSDPs and 28 SSDPs were submitted on the designated SANKALP portal. All the States/UTs have been advised to continue the preparation, periodic updation and annual submission of DSDPs and SSDPs. In addition to this target allocation under Short-Term Skilling is aligned with DSDPs which includes district level economic activities, cluster-based demand along with emerging employment and livelihood opportunities.

(b) and (c) The Government of India is implementing various skill development programmes across the country, including in the State of Rajasthan and the Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha Constituency, through its ongoing schemes and programmes.

The skill development schemes/programmes of MSDE are as follows:

(i) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):

PMKVY is a demand-driven scheme, wherein training is imparted based on local skill requirements, district skill gaps and industry demand. Training has been conducted in sectors relevant to local economic activities including agriculture, food processing, logistics, tourism & hospitality, renewable energy and related sectors. PMKVY 4.0 further focuses on industry-aligned and future-ready skills.

Under PMKVY since inception, 14.09 lakh candidates have been trained/oriented and 12.12 lakh candidates certified in Rajasthan. Under PMKVY 4.0, 3.15 lakh candidates have been trained/oriented and 2.51 lakh candidates certified across various sectors in the State. The sector- wise details of training and certification in Rajasthan and Jhunjhunu in various sectors are as

under:

Sector Rajasthan Jhunjhunu PMKVY PMKVY 4.0 PMKVY PMKVY 4.0 Trained/ OriCertif Trained/ OriCertif Trained/ OriCertif Trained/ OriCertif ented ied ented ied ented ied ented ied Agriculture 49,608 36,73 11,222 7,806 2,496 2,120 1,193 1,064 4 Food Processin14,003 11,78 3,445 2,709 755 717 390 379 g 4 Logistics 33,045 26,61 1,172 560 6,331 5,303 180 0 7 Sports 26,105 25,71 241 127 0 0 0 0 1 Tourism and Ho81,897 76,32 7,501 5,575 2,612 2,405 634 517 spitality 4Renewable Ene38,446 31,56 26,427 21,48 2,352 2,123 2,022 1,807 rgy 5 2 Total 2,43,104 2,08,750,008 38,25 14,546 12,66 4,419 3,767 35 9 8 Further, PMKVY 4.0 provides flexibility to States, industries, training providers and other implementing agencies to propose training programmes aligned with local economic opportunities and sectoral requirements, including those relating to agriculture, MSMEs, food processing, logistics, tourism, renewable energy and other emerging sectors.

(ii) PM Vishwakarma Scheme:

The PM Vishwakarma (PMV) is a Central Sector Scheme, launched on 17.09.2023 to provide end-to-end support to artisans and crafts people. The Scheme aims at upskilling the Vishwakarma’s with the knowledge of modern tools and techniques coupled with credit support for expanding their business. The scheme is being implemented by three Ministries i.e., Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.

MSDE is the nodal ministry for implementation of Skilling Component of the Scheme. A total of 18 trades namely Tailor, Mason, Carpenter, Malakaar, Barber, Basket Maker/Basket Weaver:

Matmaker/Coir Weaver/Broom maker, Washerman, Sculptor, Potter, Fishing Net Maker, Blacksmith, Goldsmith, Cobbler, Hammer and ToolKit Maker, Doll & Toy Maker, Armourer, Boat Maker, and Locksmith are getting covered under this scheme. As on 02/08/2026, 2,24,516 candidates have been trained and assessed under PM Vishwakarma in Rajasthan. The number of candidates trained under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha Constituency, Rajasthan, is as under:

Upto 02/08/2026 Districts No. of registered candidates No. of trained and assessed candidates Jhunjhunu 6,378 5,998 Sikar 6,364 5,911

(iii) Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme:

The Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme, initially launched as Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP) in 1967, aims to provide skill training in a non-formal mode at the doorsteps of the beneficiary through registered Societies (NGOs) with 100% grant from the Government of India. The objective of the scheme is to increase the household income by promoting self/wage employment through skill development training. The target beneficiaries of the scheme are non-literates and persons having rudimentary level of education, school dropouts up to class 12th in the age group of 15- 45 years. From FY 2018-19 to 30th June 2026, a total of 1,02,323 beneficiaries have been trained under the Jan Shikshan Scheme in Rajasthan out of which 14,273 beneficiaries are trained in JSS Sikar which falls under the Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha Constituency. Jan Shikshan Sansthans

(JSSs) offer training in 83 NSQF- compliant job roles across 24 sectors such as Agriculture, Food Processing, Tourism & Hospitality at National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 2-4.

(iv) National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS):

The Government of India launched the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) in August, 2016 to promote apprenticeship training and enhance employability through industry-led, on-the-job learning. Since FY 2022-23, the scheme is being implemented as NAPS-2 under the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961. Apprenticeship training under NAPS is imparted through participating establishments using existing industry infrastructure and workplace facilities. The scheme enables apprentices to acquire practical workplace exposure, hands-on experience and industry-relevant skills across a wide range of sectors and occupations, thereby supporting employment-oriented skill development. Apprenticeship training under the scheme is demand-driven and aligned with the workforce requirements of participating establishments, thereby facilitating development of skilled manpower relevant to local industry needs. The Government continues to strengthen the apprenticeship ecosystem through stakeholder consultations, awareness programmes, capacity-building initiatives and promotion of industry participation.

(v) Solar Entrepreneurship under the PM Surya Ghar:- The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) an autonomous institute under MSDE is conducting Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) on Solar Entrepreneurship under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

(PMSGMBY) of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) from FY 2024-25. A total of 2105 participants have been trained under the programme in Rajasthan which includes 261 participants from the district of Sikar.

(vi) Capacity Building Programme for Fair Price Shop Owners:- NIESBUD, in collaboration with the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has undertaken a Capacity Building Programme for Fair Price Shop (FPS) Owners. The project is being undertaken as Special Project under PMKVY to enable the FPS owners to run their businesses in consonance with the contemporary practices being adopted by Retail Entrepreneurs. The programme aims to equip the participants with in-depth knowledge of various facets of entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy, and government support ecosystem. A total of 28 FPS owners have been trained in the state of Rajasthan under this initiative.

(vii) Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) Project :

NIESBUD is implementing the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) Project, funded by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), for the capacity building and entrepreneurial development of Scheduled Tribe communities through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs). The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and State Implementing Agencies. The DAJGUA initiative focuses on strengthening VDVKs, which serve as hubs for collection, value addition, processing, and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP). Under the project, NIESBUD is undertaking capacity building of VDVKs across the country including 26 VDVKs in the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan to train 7679 participants through structured training interventions - Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes

(EAPs), Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs), and Value-Added Training (VAT).

The skill development programmes implemented through other Ministries are as follows:

(i) Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing a Capacity building programme for skilling of different stakeholders including Discom officials, vendors, and solar PV technicians/ installers so as to build a capable local skilled workforce for installation of solar rooftop systems throughout the country. Under this scheme, a total number of 15,674 participants have been trained in Rajasthan under different training component, including 621 discom officials.

(ii) Ministry of Tourism is implementing Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) to provide education, training and certification to the tourism service providers at every level. The objectives of the initiative is to train and up-grade manpower at every strata of service in order to capitalize on the vast tourism potential of the country to the fullest and to provide professional expertise to the local populace as well as create fresh opportunities for employment generation in the tourism sector both in urban as well as rural areas. 7707 participants have been trained/certified in last five years under the CBSP scheme in the State of Rajasthan.

(iii) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms” (ATMA) in 734 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country. The scheme promotes decentralized and farmer-friendly extension system in the country (Including all the 41 districts of Rajasthan along with Jhunjhunu District). The objective of the Scheme is to support State Government’s efforts and to make available latestagricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups, organizing Farm Schools and Skill Training for Rural Youth etc.

(d) Impact of schemes for skill development is assessed through third-party independent evaluation.

MSDE’s flagship scheme PMKVY was evaluated by NITI Aayog in October 2020 under jobs and

skills sector as follows: i. The training provided under the scheme is relevant to the employers and they prefer candidates trained under PMKVY compared to untrained candidates. ii. 52% of the placed candidates who had completed training under the RPL component received higher salary or felt that they will get higher salary compared to their peers who have no certification.

iii. About 94% of the employers surveyed reported they would hire more candidates trained under the scheme. iv. About 67% and 18% of the employers reported that the overall experience with respect to the recruitment process was good and very good, respectively.

Further, third-party impact evaluation of the scheme PMKVY 2.0 (2016-20) was conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) as follows: i. The maximum percentage of beneficiaries (70.5%) received placement in their desired skill sector.

ii. To ensure that high standards of quality are maintained by PMKVY Training Centres, NSDC and empanelled inspection agencies use various yardsticks. These involve validations, surprise visits, and monitoring through the Skill India Portal (SIP) (erstwhile Skills Development Management System (SDMS)). These standards are intensified using the latest technologies.

iii. As an impact of the scheme, 118.2% change in monthly wages of beneficiary trainees has been recognized. Average monthly remuneration/wages of surveyed beneficiaries increased from ₹8,422.64 to ₹17,871.26 post completion of training under PMKVY 2016-

20.

The Third-Party Impact Evaluation Report of PMKVY 4.0, containing the findings of the evaluation study, was submitted by Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM) on

14.12.2025. Based on this report, the key findings are summarized as follows: i. Overall, 70% of the surveyed STT trainees acknowledged benefiting from PMKVY training in terms of either improved employability, technical skills, confidence and soft skills ii. 79% RPL candidates reported that they benefitted from the PMKVY 4.0 recognition and certification process.

iii. The combined share of employed and self-employed STT respondents increased from

26.6% prior to training (1,340 out of 5,038) to 45.4% after PMKVY training (2,285 out of 5,038), reflecting an 18.8 percentage point increase. iv. 41.4% of STT candidates (2,086 out of 5,038) and 48.9% of RPL candidates (1,009 out of 2,062) reporting an increase in income following PMKVY training and certification.

MSDE has undertaken a comprehensive third-party evaluation of the Jan Shikshan Sansthan

(JSS) Scheme through the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM) in 2025 covering the period 2021-2026. The evaluation found that the Scheme continues to be highly relevant in imparting community-based, livelihood-oriented skills to disadvantaged sections of society. It reported that around 90% of beneficiaries utilised the skills acquired for employment opportunities, while 82% were gainfully engaged within six months of completion of training. The study also observed a significant increase in the average monthly income of beneficiaries. Women constituted over 82% of the beneficiaries and 73% belonged to SC/ST/OBC categories, reaffirming the Scheme's outreach to disadvantaged communities.Additionally, MSDE has conducted a National Skill Gap Study through National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) of seven high-growth sectors to establish a robust methodology for analyzing sector-specific skill demands. The seven sectors include – (i) Growing of cereal, leguminous crops and oilseeds; (ii) raising of cattle and buffaloes; (iii) weaving of textiles; (iv) manufacture of motor vehicles, parts & accessories of motor vehicles; (v) electric power generation using solar energy and other non-conventional sources; (vi) retail sale of food, clothing, footwear and leather articles in specialised stores and maintenance & repair of MVs and;

(vii) computer programming activities. The study has identified job roles which are facing and are likely to face demand shortage in the seven sectors. *****