NEW DELHI: Cabinet on Friday approved the Rs 8,800 crore Skill India Programme till 2025-26 with focus on industry-aligned training of manpower across the country. It also gave ex-post facto approval for creation of South Coast Railway zone, fulfilling Centre’s assurance as per Andhra Reorganisation Act.
Briefing mediapersons about the Cabinet decisions, I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnsaw said the revamped skill programme will now include three components – Rs 6,000 crore PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), Rs 1,942 crore PM National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS), and Rs 858 crore Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) scheme.
An official release said that the approval underscores govt’s commitment to building a skilled, future-ready workforce by integrating demand-driven, technology-enabled, and industry-aligned training across the country. “These initiatives aim to provide structured skill development, on-the-job training, and community-based learning, ensuring that both urban and rural populations, including marginalised communities, have access to high-quality vocational education,” it said.
Vaishnaw said PM-NAPS will cover the service sector in addition to manufacturing. Govt said the scheme encourages apprenticeship opportunities in prevailing manufacturing including emerging fields such as AI, robotics, blockchain, green energy, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
“This aligns skilling initiatives with futuristic job markets and industry trends,” govt said. The scheme will incentivise establishments to engage apprentices by providing financial incentives in the age group of 14-35 years, aiming at ensuring school to work transition through hands-on experience. Govt said there are around 2.3 crore beneficiaries till date under the three flagships schemes of skill development and entrepreneurship ministry.
With regard to the two other decisions, Vaishnaw, who is also railway minister, said that a new Rayagada Railway division under the East Coast Railway Zone will be established and the existing Waltair division will be renamed as the Visakhapatnam Railway Division, ending another colonial legacy.
The minister said that the Cabinet also gave the go ahead for extension of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) for three years beyond March 31, 2025 and approved approximately Rs 51 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,” govt said.
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