Skill Development and Expanding Workforce: PLFS 2025 and Government Initiatives
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Economy
Why in news
The latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) estimates show India's overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 and above declined marginally from 59.6% in 2024 to 59.3% in 2025. This news highlights the government's ongoing efforts under Skill India Mission to address workforce skill gaps and improve employability.
Background
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements various schemes like PMKVY, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, NAPS, and Craftsmen Training Scheme through ITIs to provide skilling, reskilling, and upskilling training. The Skill India Mission aims to prepare youth for future needs and equip them with industry-relevant skills.
Key facts
India's overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 and above declined from 59.6% in 2024 to 59.3% in 2025, a marginal decrease.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been established as an apex regulator for quality assurance in the TVET sector.
NCVET has approved 10,209 qualifications, of which 2,975 are currently valid and active, while 7,234 are archived.
The Directorate General of Training (DGT) implements Flexi MoU scheme and Dual System of Training (DST) to provide industrial training to ITI trainees.
DGT has signed MoUs with companies like IBM, Microsoft, Autodesk, AWS, and Shell for training in modern and green technologies.
The Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) allows students to undergo apprenticeship training as part of their degree/diploma courses.
PMKVY includes training in future skills like AI/ML, Robotics, Mechatronics, and Drone Technology aligned with Industry 4.0.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions integrating vocational education with mainstream education and promoting seamless mobility between academic and vocational streams.
Prelims pointers
- PLFS: Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- LFPR: Labour Force Participation Rate - percentage of working-age population in the labour force.
- Skill India Mission (SIM): Umbrella mission for skill development in India.
- PMKVY: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana - flagship scheme for skill training.
- NCVET: National Council for Vocational Education and Training - apex regulator for TVET.
- NAPS: National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.
- DGT: Directorate General of Training - under MSDE.
- AEDP: Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programme - developed with UGC and AICTE.
- NEP 2020: National Education Policy 2020 - promotes vocational education integration.
- Industry 4.0: Refers to automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.
Mains angles
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities in India's skill development ecosystem in light of the marginal decline in LFPR.
- Critically examine the role of NCVET in ensuring quality and industry relevance of vocational education and training.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of government initiatives like PMKVY and AEDP in enhancing employability of youth.
- Analyze the impact of NEP 2020 on integrating vocational education with mainstream education.