The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is a flagship skill training scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. It aims to enable and mobilize a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training to become employable and earn their livelihood.

1. Objectives:

• To encourage and mobilize a large number of Indian youths to undertake outcome-based skill training.
• To increase the productivity of the existing workforce and align skill training with industry needs.
• To provide monetary rewards for skill certification to boost employability and productivity.
• To ensure standardization of certifications and enhance the credibility of skill training.
• To provide placement assistance to certified candidates.

2. Key Components/Features:

• Short Term Training (STT): This component is for Indian nationality candidates who are either school/college dropouts or unemployed. Training is provided as per the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and includes soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial, and digital literacy.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): This component aims to certify the skills of individuals who have acquired experience or skills through informal channels. It provides monetary awards for assessment and certification, helping individuals formalize their existing expertise.
• Special Projects: This caters to specific training needs in special areas, premises of government/corporate bodies, or for special job roles not covered under standard Qualification Packs (QPs)/National Occupational Standards (NOS). It often targets marginalized or vulnerable groups and difficult-to-reach areas.
• Kaushal and Rozgar Mela: These are organized to mobilize candidates, provide career counseling, and facilitate placement.
• Placement Assistance: The scheme emphasizes linking trained individuals with employment or entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Continuous Monitoring: The scheme involves continuous monitoring of training quality and outcomes.
• Standardized Branding and Communication: To ensure uniformity and recognition across all training programs.

3. Eligibility Criteria:

• Citizenship: Must be an Indian citizen.
• Age: Generally, between 15 and 45 years.
• Educational Status: Unemployed youth or school/college dropouts.
• Identification: Must possess an Aadhaar card and an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
• Job Role Specific: Must fulfill other criteria for the respective job role as defined by the awarding body.