The Union Cabinet approved the continuation and restructuring of the ‘Skill India Programme (SIP)’ until 2026 on Friday, with an allocation of Rs 8,800 crore for the period from 2022-23 to 2025-26. The programme now integrates three key components—Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme—into a unified central sector scheme under SIP.
“These initiatives aim to provide structured skill development, on-the-job training (OJT), and community-based learning, ensuring that both urban and rural populations, including marginalised communities, have access to high-quality vocational education,” said the Union Cabinet in a statement.
To stay aligned with the changing industry demands and the rise of new technologies, the Rs 6,000 crore PMKVY 4.0 scheme will offer more than 400 new courses in fields such as AI, 5G technology, cybersecurity, green hydrogen, and drone technology, among others.
The scheme also emphasizes international mobility, ensuring that Indian workers acquire skills that are globally recognised.
“A key shift under the scheme is the integration of OJT within short-term skilling programmes, ensuring that trainees gain real-world exposure and industry experience. Also, cross utilisation of existing infrastructure and to expand access to quality training, Skill Hubs have been established across premier academic institutions. To enhance efficiency, procedural changes have been introduced, including the realignment of the demand assessment strategy to better identify sectoral skill gaps and industry needs,” the statement said.
The NAPS will have a total allocation of Rs 1,958 crore to facilitate a smooth transition from education to work, ensuring apprentices gain industry-specific skills through hands-on experience.
Under this scheme, the government will provide 25 per cent of the stipend, up to Rs 1,500 per month, through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to apprentices aged 14 to 35 years.
NAPS promotes apprenticeship opportunities in traditional manufacturing sectors as well as emerging fields such as AI, robotics, blockchain, green energy, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Additionally, the community-focused skilling initiative, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), which targets women, rural youth, and economically disadvantaged groups between the ages of 15 and 45, will receive an allocation of Rs 858 crore.
“By delivering low-cost, doorstep training with flexible schedules, JSS ensures that skilling opportunities reach those who need them the most, fostering both self-employment and wage-based livelihoods. JSS is linked with key initiatives of the government like PM JANMAN and Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) to promote inclusive skilling,” said the statement.
