Women Empowerment Through Skilling: Skill India Mission’s New Direction
✍️ A UPSC Blog by Suryavanshi IAS
"Skill is the real power behind self-reliance." – Suryavanshi J.K.
📍 Introduction
The Government of India is intensifying its focus on enhancing employability among the youth—particularly women—through various schemes under the Skill India Mission (SIM).
In a recent update in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) shared that with targeted schemes, special provisions, and new initiatives, women’s participation in skill development is steadily rising.
🌟 Major Schemes and Initiatives
1️⃣ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 4.0)
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Projects with women as primary beneficiaries
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Focus sectors: Electronics, Retail, Healthcare, Beauty & Wellness, Handicrafts, Apparel
2️⃣ Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)
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Over 80% of beneficiaries are women
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Skill training aligned with local demand, especially in rural areas
3️⃣ National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
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Female participation increased from 22.79% (2024–25) to 25.80% (2025–26)
4️⃣ Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) & NSTIs for Women
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300+ exclusive women ITIs across India
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30% reservation for women in all ITIs (Govt. & Private)
🆕 New and Targeted Programs
🟣 NAVYA – Pilot Scheme for Adolescent Girls
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Target group: 16–18-year-old girls with at least Class 10 education
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Vocational training in non-traditional sectors
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Joint initiative with Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)
🟢 Swavalambini Programme (Feb 2025)
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Collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform
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Target States: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana
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Implemented by NIESBUD (Noida) & IIE (Guwahati)
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Focus on entrepreneurial mindset + awareness training
📘 UPSC Prelims Relevance
| Topic | Prelims Focus |
|---|---|
| Government Schemes | PMKVY, JSS, NAVYA, NAPS, Swavalambini |
| Policies | Women empowerment, vocational education |
| Institutions | NIESBUD, IIE, MoWCD, MSDE |
What is the objective of the Jan Shikshan Sansthan scheme?
→ Regular questions on skill-based and women-centric schemes.
📝 UPSC Mains Integration
✳️ GS Paper II – Governance, Women Empowerment, Social Justice
PYQ (2021):
"Women empowerment is not just economic independence but also social transformation." Discuss.
🟢 Use examples from NAVYA, PMKVY 4.0, and women ITIs.
📈 GS Paper III – Employment, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Growth
PYQ (2020):
"How can local-demand-based skilling reduce rural unemployment in India?"
🟢 Use JSS, Skill Hubs, and Swavalambini as case points.
⚖️ GS Paper IV – Ethics and Administration
Topic: Gender sensitivity in ethical governance
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A sensitive civil servant must ensure equal access to opportunities
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Skill + Safety + Support = Long-term empowerment
✍️ Essay Paper Theme Suggestion
Topic:
"Skill, Equality, and Self-Reliance – Empowering the Women of New India"
Outline:
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Introduction: Vision of Skill India
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Government initiatives focused on women
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Role of skilling in rural-urban transformation
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Challenges and way forward
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Conclusion: Women as pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat
🔚 Conclusion
The Skill India Mission is evolving from just training youth to transforming women's futures.
Through initiatives like NAVYA and Swavalambini, India is investing in a generation of women who are skilled, self-reliant, and future-ready.
💬 Final Note by Suryavanshi J.K.
“The value of a scheme is tested not by its budget, but by its reach to the most marginalised.”
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