The government regularly takes many initiatives for the nation’s welfare, whether it is regarding agriculture, health, education or jobs. One such scheme that was introduced in 2015 to help young people learn new skills and get good job opportunities is PMKVY. The PMKVY full form is Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and the scheme aims to provide the resources for teaching people useful skills so that they can earn money and have a good life. This training happens in centres known as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra present in many cities and villages.
In this guide, we will learn more about the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, the fundamentals of PMKVY registration, eligibility criteria for the PMKVY scheme, course offerings and more.
Objectives of PMKVY: Empowering Youth Through Skill Development
The Government of India started the PMKVY scheme to help the youth learn special skills. However, the other objectives of the scheme are:
- Give free training to young people without jobs.
- Help them learn new skills that are required in companies and industries.
- Help them get jobs or start their small businesses.
- Providing them with certifications after training.
- Make India’s workforce skilled and ready for modern jobs.
Evolution of PMKVY: From Inception to PMKVY 4.0
With time, every scheme needs to improve and adapt to current circumstances. Hence, the PMKVY scheme has changed over time to become better. Here are the phases of the PMKVY Scheme’s evolution:
- PMKVY 1.0 (2015-2016): This was the first version that focused on training people and giving them certificates.
- PMKVY 2.0 (2016-2020): In this phase, more training centres were opened and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) started, where people with skills but no certificate also got certified.
- PMKVY 3.0 (2020-2022): Here, the focus was on teaching skills that companies and industries actually need.
- PMKVY 4.0 (2023 onwards): This is the latest phase where new skills like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and Machine Learning are also taught.

Key Components of PMKVY: Training Programs and Certifications
The PMKVY scheme is not just about training, it is a complete skill development program. Here are the major components of PMKVY:
- Short-Term Training (STT): This is for people who have left school or college or are unemployed. It covers practical work, computer knowledge and soft skills like communication.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): If you already know a skill but do not have any certificate, you can join this program.
- Placement Assistance: Different bodies like NSDC and SSC coordinate with the training centre to help the candidates get a job or a minimum wage in some form.
- Special Projects: Under this, special groups like women or people with disabilities are given exclusive training to help them grow.
- Kaushal and Rozgar Melas: These are job fairs where trained people meet companies who are looking to hire them.
- Monitoring: Continuous mentoring of training centres is done to ensure they provide standard education and quality training.
- Branding and Communication: All training centres are required to do branding of their own centres according to the government guidelines.
Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Benefit from PMKVY?
Now, who can join the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana? Here are the eligibility criteria for the PMKVY scheme:
- You must be an Indian citizen aged between 15 years and 45 years.
- You must either be an unemployed youth or a school/college dropout.
- Must have an Aadhar card and other valid ID proofs.
- Need to have an active bank account.
- Must meet the criteria for the job role you applied for, as defined by the SSCs (Sector Skill Councils).
Enrollment Process: How to Register for PMKVY Courses
The PMKVY registration is very simple and the steps involved in it are as follows:
Step 1: Go to the PMKVY registration website: www.skillindiadigital.gov.in/home
Step 2: Register and complete the KYC process.
Step 3: Explore different courses and select the one that aligns with your interests.
Step 4: Fill out the PMKVY registration form by providing the required details.
Step 5: Join the classes and start learning.
Course Offerings: Exploring the Diverse Skill Development Programs
The major courses available under Kaushal Vikas Yojana that you can choose from cover every field including:
- Information Technology (IT) and Computers
- Healthcare and Nursing
- Beauty and Wellness
- Construction and Plumbing
- Retail and Sales
- Agriculture and Farming
- Automobile Repairs
- Apparel and Tailoring
- Electronics
- Food Processing
- Tourism and Hospitality
Placement and Employment Opportunities: Leveraging PMKVY for Career Growth
- The PMKVY centres organise Rozgar Melas or job fairs where companies come to hire trained candidates.
- Your training certificate would make it easier to get private or even government jobs.
- If you do not want to have a job, you can also start your business.
- You can also use these skills for freelance jobs or online work.
Conclusion
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) certainly serves India’s youth in a true sense. It not only provides free training but also helps unemployed people get jobs. So, if you want to learn something new or improve your skills, you should definitely check out PMKVY registration and join the course of your choice.
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