New Delhi, June 11, 2026: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has completed 12 years of its Skill India journey, highlighting the growth of one of the world’s largest skilling ecosystems and its contribution to workforce development, entrepreneurship and employability across the country.
According to the Ministry, India now has more than 13,888 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), up from 9,776 in 2014. Since 2016, over 56.08 lakh apprentices have been engaged through apprenticeship programmes, while more than 1.64 crore candidates have been trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
The Ministry also reported that over 1.5 crore candidates are registered on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), which offers access to skilling, jobs, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship opportunities through a single digital platform. More than 1,000 courses are available on the platform in 23 languages.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, said, "The journey of the last twelve years reflects India's growing recognition that skills are among the most powerful enablers of opportunity, productivity and economic transformation. The Ministry has worked to create an ecosystem where skills are viewed as an integral part of learning, employability and lifelong growth, alongside formal education. As technologies reshape industries and the nature of work continues to evolve, our focus is on preparing India's youth not only for existing opportunities, but also for jobs and enterprises that will emerge in the years ahead. Through stronger industry partnerships, digital innovation, entrepreneurship support and global mobility pathways, we are building a workforce that is confident, competitive and ready to contribute to India's development journey."
The Ministry highlighted the establishment of three Indian Institutes of Skills (IIS) in Gandhinagar, Mumbai and Kanpur as part of efforts to strengthen advanced, industry-aligned training infrastructure.
Entrepreneurship development has also been a key focus area. Through programmes implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), more than 25 lakh beneficiaries have received entrepreneurship training.
Globally, India’s performance in WorldSkills competitions has improved significantly, with the country’s ranking rising from 29th in 2015 to 13th in 2024. The Ministry has also announced 30 Skill India International Centres to support overseas employment opportunities and strengthen workforce mobility.
MSDE said its future roadmap includes initiatives such as PM-SETU, expanded apprenticeship programmes, and training in emerging areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced technologies, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
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