SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN AI, DIGITAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN AI, DIGITAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country. The SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready, equipped with industry-relevant skills.
Further, National Council for Vocational Education & Training (NCVET) has developed the National Programme on Artificial Intelligence (NPAI) Skilling Framework, which outlines the national roadmap, structure and guidelines for skilling in AI, data science and emerging technologies serves as the foundational document for developing standardised, industry-aligned courses and curricula.
PMKVY 4.0, courses enabling global digital job participation include Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Foundation & Advanced, Robotic Process Automation, Drone Pilot Technician, Industrial IoT, Data Analytics. The programme also focuses on future-ready job roles such as Electric Vehicle Service Technician, IoT Assistant, AR/VR Technical Artist, Drone Operator, AI & ML Engineer, and Solar PV Designer, reflecting the focus on emerging technologies and advanced skills.
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) was launched by MSDE in September, 2023 as a Digital Public Infrastructure to integrate training, assessment, certification and other skill development related services on a single digital platform. As per reports generated by SIDH till 31-Dec-2025, under PMKVY 4.0 over 5.10 lakh candidates have been trained in 162 futuristic job roles and Rs.261.10 lakh has been allocated for digital skills training across the country. These programs aim to equip candidates with practical, industry-aligned skills in high-growth areas, ensuring employability in technology-driven fields. They support India’s transition to a skilled, future-ready workforce. Government is further expanding these initiatives by integrating future-ready skill programmes in collaboration with academic institutions, industry partners, and Sector Skill Councils, while leveraging digital platforms for wider access and monitoring. This approach equips students with practical skills in emerging technologies and progressively expands their reach across schools, colleges, technical institutes and other learning ecosystems nationwide.
Under the JSS Scheme, 4 courses related to digital skills were introduced in FY 2025-26, namely, Assistant Computer Operator, Course on computer concepts, Cyber Security Assistant and Data Analysis Assistant. A total number of 37,499 candidates have been trained/oriented in Digital Skills courses during FY 2025-26 (till 31.12.2025).
Under NAPS, Apprenticeship training is broadly classified as Designated trades and Optional Trades. Apprenticeship training is imparted under 266 Designated trade and over 750 Optional trades. The job roles includes those of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IT/ITeS (Digital). Under AI related trades, a total of 1,991 apprentices have been engaged and 3,44,003 apprentices in IT/ITeS (Digital) related trade across the country under NAPS-2 from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (till 31.12.2025).
Under CTS, training in 31 new-age courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Robotics, AI, and Drone, etc., for skilling and upskilling of youth of the country is conducted through a network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). A total number of 1,06,677 candidates have been enrolled in Digital Skills courses during 2021-22 to 2025-26.
DGT has collaborated with entities including IBM India, Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe India, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), Edunet Foundation, Auto Desk etc, for skilling initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). These partnerships facilitate the provision of technical and professional skill training in modern technologies. A module on ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Duration: 7.5 Hours’ has been introduced in the subject of Employability Skills under the trades of CTS.
MSDE launched a national-level initiative, SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness), aimed at embedding AI awareness and foundational skills among school students (Classes 6–12) and building AI literacy among educators. The programme seeks to bridge the digital divide by ensuring equitable access to AI education across geographies, thereby supporting the national agenda of inclusive, future-ready skilling.
Further, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), along with Nasscom has launched the FutureSkills Prime (FSP) platform for equipping learners with knowledge of emerging technologies by offering courses and other offerings on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics Process Automation (RPA), cybersecurity, and other digital skills.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.