Government Schemes in India
Verified government initiatives supporting skill development, vocational training, and entrepreneurship in India.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
The flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood. PMKVY 4.0 focuses on new-age skills like AI, Drone Technology, and IoT.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)
A part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), tasked with the dual objectives of adding diversity to the incomes of rural poor families and cater to the career aspirations of rural youth. It focuses heavily on placement-linked skill training.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
A scheme to promote apprenticeship training and increase the engagement of apprentices. It replaces the classroom-only model with an 'earn while you learn' model, providing companies with financial incentives to hire apprentices.
Craftsmen Training Scheme (ITIs)
Directorate General of Training (DGT)
The oldest and largest vocational training scheme in India, implemented through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Provides structured training in engineering and non-engineering trades to school leavers.
Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion
MSDE (World Bank Loan Assisted)
A World Bank loan assisted project that aims to improve short-term skill training qualitatively and quantitatively through strengthening institutions, bringing in better market connectivity, and inclusion of marginalized sections of society.
Seekho Aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)
Ministry of Minority Affairs
A scheme for Skill Development of Minorities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Jains) to upgrade the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional skills depending upon their educational qualification, present economic trends, and market potential.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
A groundbreaking scheme to support traditional artisans and craftspeople (carpenters, boat makers, blacksmiths, potters, sculptors, cobblers, tailors, etc.). It combines skill upgradation, toolkit grants, and highly subsidized credit to scale their traditional businesses.
Nai Manzil
Ministry of Minority Affairs
An integrated education and livelihood initiative for minority communities. It benefits school dropouts by providing them formal education (open schooling) along with market-driven skill training.
Standard Training Assessment and Reward
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
The precursor to PMKVY. Provided monetary rewards to youth for acquiring skills. (Note: This scheme is no longer active and has been replaced by PMKVY).
Green Skill Development Programme
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Aims to skill youth in environment, forest, and wildlife sectors (e.g., pollution monitoring, waste management, forest fire management) to create 'Green Skilled' workers.
UDAAN (Jammu & Kashmir)
Ministry of Home Affairs & NSDC
Special Industry Initiative for J&K. Aimed to provide skills and enhance employability of 40,000 graduates, post-graduates, and diploma holders from J&K. (Currently largely phased out/completed).
Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector
Ministry of Textiles
Aims to train 10 lakh persons in the textile sector (excluding spinning and weaving) to address the shortage of skilled workers in the garment and apparel industry. Heavy focus on women empowerment.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Ministry of Rural Development
The world's largest social welfare and public works program. It guarantees 100 days of unskilled manual labor to any rural household whose adult members volunteer. It acts as a primary social safety net for rural India.
Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana
Ministry of Labour & Employment
A scheme designed to incentivize employers for generation of new employment, where the Government of India pays the full employer's contribution towards EPF & EPS for new employees for three years.
National Career Service
Ministry of Labour & Employment
A one-stop platform that connects job seekers, employers, skill providers, and placement organizations. It has transformed the traditional Employment Exchanges into IT-enabled Career Centers.
Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping
MSDE / NSDC
An AI-based portal to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities. It maps demand (employer requirements) with supply (skilled workforce), primarily targeting PMKVY certified candidates.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission
Ministry of Rural Development
A poverty alleviation project that promotes self-employment and organization of rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs). It is the world's largest initiative to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.
Accredited Social Health Activist Program
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
ASHA workers are trained female community health activists. Selected from the village itself, they act as the interface between the community and the public health system. A massive source of semi-formal employment for rural women.
National Rozgar Mela
Government of India
An employment campaign launched by the Prime Minister to provide 10 lakh (1 million) government jobs. Appointment letters are handed out simultaneously at massive recruitment drives across the country.
PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
A micro-credit facility providing working capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods post-COVID-19. Promotes digital transactions and formalizes the urban informal economy.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
Designed to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization. It bridges the gap between idea stage and venture capital funding.
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
Ministry of Finance
A scheme to 'fund the unfunded' micro-enterprises. It provides loans up to ₹10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. Loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, MFIs, and NBFCs.
Stand Up India Scheme
Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
Facilitates bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield (new) enterprise.
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme
Ministry of MSME / KVIC
A major credit-linked subsidy program aimed at generating employment opportunities in rural and urban areas by setting up new micro-enterprises. Implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) at the national level.
Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises
Ministry of MSME & SIDBI
Encourages banks to lend to MSMEs without asking for collateral security. If the MSME fails to repay the loan, the trust makes good the loss incurred by the lender up to a specified percentage.
Atal Innovation Mission
NITI Aayog
The Government of India's flagship initiative to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Runs programs from school level (Tinkering Labs) to university/industry level (Incubation Centres).
Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds
Ministry of Education (MoE)
India's national MOOC platform. Designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy: access, equity, and quality. Courses are developed by top faculties from IITs, IIMs, JNU, IGNOU, and NCERT.
PM eVIDYA
Ministry of Education
A comprehensive initiative unifying all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education. It was launched under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on education.
National Digital Library of India
Ministry of Education & IIT Kharagpur
A virtual repository of learning resources with a single-window search facility. NDLI provides educational materials in 70+ languages, from primary to post-graduate levels, covering all subject areas.
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
Department of School Education & Literacy
An overarching program for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12. It subsumes three former schemes: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE). Aimed at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
A comprehensive scholarship scheme for Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified Tribes (DNT) students. Scholarships are awarded based on a national level entrance test conducted by the NTA.
ILO Skills and Employability Programme
International Labour Organization (UN)
While not a direct-to-consumer grant, the ILO partners with national governments to establish recognized vocational training systems, apprenticeship frameworks, and fair labor policies worldwide. Users benefit by engaging with ILO-certified national programs.
United Nations Volunteers
United Nations
Contribute to peace and development worldwide. UN Volunteers work in over 130 countries in human rights, climate change, healthcare, and disaster relief. Excellent stepping stone into the UN ecosystem.
World Bank Group Young Professionals Program
World Bank Group
The premier pathway into the World Bank Group. It recruits highly qualified young professionals who demonstrate a passion for international development, outstanding academic credentials, and leadership potential.