Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana - Short Term Training (PMKVY STT)

What is PMKVY Short Term Training?

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship skilling scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, implemented through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Its Short Term Training (STT) component targets school and college dropouts and unemployed youth, giving them a job-ready skill in a compressed, industry-aligned course.

According to the PMKVY guidelines, Short Term Training covers more than 40 sectors: from retail, apparel and electronics to healthcare, construction, beauty and wellness, and logistics. Each course maps to a defined job role under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), so the training, assessment and certificate are standardised nationwide. The current phase, PMKVY 4.0, is delivered through the Skill India Digital Hub.

Key features

• Free, full-time training at government-empanelled centres.
• Course length of roughly 150 to 300 hours, typically three weeks to three months depending on the trade.
• Training includes soft skills, digital literacy, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, alongside the core job-role content.
• Third-party assessment leads to an NSQF-aligned certificate and placement support.

How much does PMKVY Short Term Training cost the trainee?

Nothing. Government-funded Short Term Training is free for the candidate at empanelled centres, with the training cost borne by the scheme on a pay-for- outcomes basis to the training provider. The headline benefit for the trainee is the free skilling plus a recognised certificate, not a cash transfer.

Some batches and special projects add support such as boarding, lodging, travel reimbursement or a conveyance allowance, and a few offer a post-placement or attendance-linked incentive. These vary by project and are not a guaranteed part of every STT batch, so a trainee should confirm the exact terms with the centre before enrolling rather than assume a fixed stipend.

Who is eligible for PMKVY Short Term Training?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian citizen aged 15 to 45.
• You are unemployed, or a school or college dropout looking for an entry-level skill.
• You have a valid Aadhaar and a bank account.

You cannot apply if:

• You fall outside the 15 to 45 age band.
• You are not the target group, for example, already in stable salaried employment rather than unemployed or a dropout.
• You are a non-citizen, or you do not meet a minimum qualification that a specific job role requires (some technical roles specify Class 8, 10 or 12).

Because eligibility is set per job role, a candidate who does not qualify for one trade may still qualify for a lower-entry trade at the same centre.

What documents are required for PMKVY?

How to apply for PMKVY Short Term Training

1. Go to the Skill India Digital Hub at skillindiadigital.gov.in and create a learner account with your mobile number and Aadhaar.
2. Search by sector or job role and location to find courses and empanelled training centres near you.
3. Select a course and centre, and register your interest online.
4. Complete enrolment at the training centre, carrying your Aadhaar, bank passbook and a passport photograph.
5. Attend the full training — 150 to 300 hours, and take the third-party assessment at the end.
6. On passing, collect your NSQF certificate and use the centre's placement support to connect with employers.

You can also enrol offline by walking directly into a listed empanelled centre; the same documents apply.

Is the PMKVY certificate worth it?

The certificate is issued under NSDC and aligned to the NSQF, which means it is recognised by the Government of India and by employers who hire against NSQF job roles. For a first-time job seeker or a dropout, PMKVY Short Term Training is mainly a bridge into an entry-level formal job or into further apprenticeship, rather than a cash benefit. Treat the certificate and placement support as the real return.

Help and how to avoid fraud

• Skill India / PMKVY helpline: 08800055555
• Skill India Digital Hub: skillindiadigital.gov.in for the current list of empanelled centres and courses.

PMKVY government-funded Short Term Training is free. No empanelled centre should charge a training or registration fee. If a centre or agent demands money to "enrol you" or "guarantee a job", verify the centre on the official portal and report it on the Skill India helpline before paying anything.