Vishal Mayur, Bengaluru
On July 15th, the world celebrates World Youth Skills Day, aimed at recognizing the importance of equipping young people with skills relevant to local and global economies. India, with its vast youth population, seems poised to benefit from investing in technical and vocational education and training. However, beneath the surface lies a stark reality marked by a significant skills gap, limited vocational training capacity, and a lack of industry-relevant skills.
India’s demographic dividend, with over 600 million people aged between 18 and 35 and 65% of the population under the age of 35, is often touted as a significant strength. According to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), this demographic advantage is expected to persist until at least 2055–56 and will peak around 2041 when the share of the working-age population (20–59 years) is expected to hit 59%. However, only 2.3% of India’s workforce has received formal vocational training, according to National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) data, leaving a staggering 70% of the workforce without industry-relevant skills, according to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The country’s vocational training capacity is limited, with only 3.5 million seats available against a requirement of 12.5 million (NSDC).
The Indian government has launched initiatives like Skill India, Make in India, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to bridge the skills gap. Programs like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) aim to train 10 million youth by 2025. However, despite these efforts, progress has been slow. Over 1.2 million youth have been trained under PMKVY, but placement rates stand at a mere 70% (MSDE). Moreover, the quality of training remains a significant concern, with many institutions lacking adequate infrastructure and industry-relevant curricula.
The dark secrets behind India’s skill development initiative are further disclosed when we delve into the data. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has been marred by controversies, with allegations of misusing funds and inadequate training infrastructure. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has also faced criticism for its lack of transparency and accountability in implementing skill development programs.
While World Youth Skills Day celebrates the importance of skill development, India’s reality is far from the desired outcome. The significant skills gap, limited vocational training capacity, and lack of industry-relevant skills pose serious challenges to the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness. It is crucial for the government, industries, and educational institutions to come together to address these challenges and ensure that India’s youth are equipped with the skills required to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.
