Skill Development Landscape in India

Abstract

The confluence of technological advancement, globalisation and economic liberalisation in the recent years has prompted governments in developed and developing countries alike to prioritise skills development as a key strategy for economic competitiveness and growth. India has the youngest and one of the largest pools of “demographic dividend” that needs to be nurtured, and through appropriate skill development it can foster economic growth, equitable wealth generation as well as meet the global skill shortages. The large population, majority of which are either unemployed or underemployed in the unorganized sector, need to be given adequate skill training which will not only aid the industries but will also encourage entrepreneurial ventures that will in turn generate future employment opportunities and fuel economic growth. This paper is an attempt to understand the existing skill development landscape in India by having a birds’s eye view of the importance of skill development for the economy, skill related statistics, institutional framework in skill development, skill development initiatives running in the country currently, major challenges, policy framework and the road head for meeting the Government’s aim to train 500 million people by 2022 by empowering all individuals through improved skills, knowledge and nationally and internationally recognised qualifications to gain access to decent employment and ensure India's competitiveness in the global market. It is observed that in order to make the skill development mission a success, it is important for the Government to focus on inclusive measures, quality in delivery, use of information and communication technology to meet scalabity and speed of delivery, introduction of modular and short term programs to meet industry specific needs etc. The cooperative federation and the involvement of States will further boost the skill development ecosystem in India.