Cabinet approves common norms for skill development schemes

The union cabinet has approved introduction of common norms for the skill development schemes implemented by various ministries and departments, an official statement said on Thursday.

"Currently, over 70-odd Skill Development Programmes (SDPs) are being implemented by the government, each with its own norms for eligibility criteria, duration of training, cost of training, outcomes, monitoring and tracking mechanism," the statement said.

"This multiplicity of norms and parameters has created a diffusive effect of SDPs, which need to be streamlined in order to achieve the final outcomes envisaged," it said.

Common norms seek to rationalise the whole spectrum of skill development processes and systems including inputs, outputs, funding/cost norms, third party certification and assessment, monitoring/tracking mechanisms, and empanelment of training providers.

They define the activities constituting 'skill development' in the country. Skill development courses and their alignment with the national skills qualification framework, broad input standards for training programmes and the outcomes expected from these programmes.

The state governments are also expected to align their skill development schemes with the common norms so as to bring in uniformity and standardization, the statement added.