On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day (July 15), Minister of State (I/C) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, launched the week-long celebration of 10-year milestone of the Skill India Mission.
The week-long celebration, will see programs, workshops, and exhibitions across ITIs, skill centres, and educational institutions in every state. The celebrations will culminate in the ‘Bharat SkillNxt 2025’ event on July 22 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during which major skilling initiatives will be launched, including a dedicated program on AI skilling for school children.
Describing the journey as ‘Kaushal ka Dashak’, the Minister reflected on the transformative impact of the Mission and outlined the government’s roadmap for the future of skilling in India. Over the decade, through concerted efforts across skilling, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, global mobility and traditional trades, MSDE has empowered more than crores of Indians to build a brighter future for themselves and for the country.
Shri Chaudhary highlighted how the Skill India Mission has turned India’s youth into a force of transformation, both at home and abroad. “Indian workers are known the world over for their hard work and discipline. The Prime Minister recognised this latent potential and gave it national direction through Skill India Mission. Today, it has become a powerful identity of New India,” he said.
He reflected on how skilling, which was earlier scattered across ministries, was unified under a single, coordinated effort that brought together government departments, the private sector, and civil society. “We adopted a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ensure convergence, quality, and scale,” he added.
Over the past decade, schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have trained over 1.64 crore youth, while more than 14,500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been supported through reforms in quality, governance, and affiliation norms. Minister Chaudhary emphasized the need to enhance employability through trust, verifiability, and industry participation.
“Just as the National Education Policy (NEP) has been a game changer for the education sector, the upcoming National Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Policy will be equally transformative for India’s workforce. It will redefine the way we skill, upskill, and reskill our people—preparing them to thrive and lead in an increasingly dynamic global economy,” talking about the impending skill policy, Minister said.
He also spoke about the ₹60,000 crore ITI Revamp Scheme approved by the Cabinet, which will include ₹10,000 crore from CSR contributions. “We want to move beyond funding – we want the industry to shape the curriculum, certification, and training standards. This is how we create employable youth and make ITIs future-ready,” he said.
Shri Chaudhary also detailed the Ministry’s bold reform measures in ITIs, which include the de-affiliation of 4.5 lakh vacant seats over the last six years and ongoing action on 99,000 more seats that have remained unutilised. “In 2024, our ITI admission rate increased by 11%, showing that trust is returning to the system. We are committed to quality — not just numbers,” he affirmed.
The Minister also mentioned the 38th meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) which was held on 26th May 2025, key reforms were proposed to further strengthen and simplify the implementation of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). A significant step includes the proposal to increase the stipend support by 36%, enhancing the attractiveness of apprenticeships for youth and incentivizing greater industry participation. In a focused effort to improve apprenticeship engagement in the North Eastern Region (NER), the Ministry has also launched a special pilot scheme providing an additional ₹1,500 per month to NER-domiciled candidates undergoing apprenticeship training within or outside the region. These measures reflect the Government’s commitment to expanding apprenticeship as a mainstream pathway to employment and skilling, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and regional equity.
“India’s youth are our greatest strength. As we march towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is their skill, spirit, and innovation that will shape our collective destiny,” he said, extending his congratulations to every learner, trainer, and stakeholder who has been part of this journey.
