New Delhi, Feb 7 (UNI) The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the continuation and restructuring of Skill India programme with an outlay of Rs 8,800 crore.
“This approval underscores the government’s commitment to building a skilled, future-ready workforce by integrating demand-driven, technology-enabled, and industry-aligned training across the country,” an official statement said.
Briefing media on Cabinet decisions, Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Cabinet today discussed in detail about demand-driven skill development to meet the skill requirement of the industry across manufacturing and services sectors.
He said that a master plan has been prepared to meet the skill requirement in the country till 2047.
“The decisions taken for the youth in the third term of the Prime Minister are worth approximately Rs 1.50 lakh crore,” Vaishnaw said.
As per the official statement, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme are now combined under the composite Central Sector Scheme of “Skill India Programme”.
The statement said that Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0) has undergone transformational changes to make skill development training industry oriented, aligned with national priorities with increased accessibility. A key shift under the scheme is the integration of On-the-Job Training (OJT) within short-term skilling programs, ensuring that trainees gain real-world exposure and industry experience.
“To keep pace with evolving industry demands and advent of new age technology, 400+ new courses on AI, 5G technology, Cybersecurity, Green Hydrogen, Drone Technology, have been introduced, focusing on emerging technologies and future skills,” it said.
The Cabinet also approved revision of divisional jurisdiction under the proposed South Coast Railway zone at Vishakhapatnam by retention of truncated Waltair division. The one part of Waltair division will be retained as Waltair division under new South Coast Railway and renamed as Vishakhapatnam division to get rid of colonial legacy.
The other part of the Waltair division will be converted into a new division with headquarters at Rayagada under East Coast Railway.
“Retention of Waltair division even in its truncated form, will meet the demand and aspirations of the people of the area,” the government release said.
The Union Cabinet also approves extension of the tenure of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) for three years beyond March 31, 2025.
The total financial implication for the extension for three years of the NCSK would be approximately Rs 50.91 crore.
“It would help in facilitating socio-economic upliftment of sanitation workers, improving the working conditions in the sanitation sector and aiming to achieve zero fatalities while performing hazardous cleaning,” the government said.
