Modi to launch Skill India Campaign on July 15

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Skill India Campaign on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day on July 15, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said on Monday.

The prime minister will formally launch the National Skill Development Mission, unveil the new National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015 and roll out on all-India flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Rudy said at an event here, according to an official statement.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consented to be the chief guest for the event to be held at Vigyan Bhawan," it said.

Rudy later tweeted: "The National Skill India Mission will converge, coordinate, implement and monitor skilling activities across India."

"There is need for skilling, reskilling and upskilling to bridge the skills gap in the country."

The pilot phase of PMKVY, that seeks to incentivise skill training by providing financial rewards to candidates who successfully complete approved training programmes and has a target of 24 lakh youth across India over the next one year, has already begun.

The National Skill Development Mission will converge, coordinate, implement and monitor skilling activities across India. "It will also be a vehicle to achieve the objectives of the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, which will provide policy direction and guidance to all stakeholders in the skill development and entrepreneurship ecosystem," said Rudy.

The launch of the Skill India Campaign is an important milestone towards achieving the objective of skilling with speed, scale and standards across the country, he said.

"This event would bring together key stakeholders including central ministries/departments, state governments, leading industry bodies, and trainees. Partnerships with all these these stakeholders is vital to ensure that Skill India, is a success," the minister added.

A 'Skill Loan' initiative will be launched at the event, where loans from Rs.5,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh will be available to more than 34 lakh youth, who seek to attend skill development programmes, over the next five years, said Rudy.