Skills & Employment Schemes

PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana is an EPFO-linked employment incentive scheme with an outlay of Rs 99,446 crore. Part A pays first-time EPFO members one month of EPF wage up to Rs 15,000 in two instalments, and Part B pays employers up to Rs 3,000 a month per additional hire. Jobs created between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027 qualify.

PM Vishwakarma is a central scheme for traditional artisans and craftspeople in 18 recognised trades. Registered beneficiaries get a certificate and ID card, skill training with a stipend of Rs 500 a day, a Rs 15,000 toolkit incentive, and collateral-free loans of up to Rs 3 lakh in two tranches at a concessional 5 per cent interest rate.

PMKVY 4.0 is the fourth phase of the Skill India flagship scheme, offering free NSQF-aligned training in more than 400 job roles. Short Term Training runs 200 to 600 hours for candidates aged 15 to 45, and Recognition of Prior Learning runs 7.5 to 132 hours for those aged 18 to 59. Registration is on Skill India Digital Hub.

Prime Minister's Internship Scheme places youth aged 18 to 25 in paid internships at India's top 500 companies. Interns receive a monthly stipend of Rs 9,000, of which Rs 8,100 comes from the government by Direct Benefit Transfer and Rs 900 from the host company, plus a one-time joining grant of Rs 6,000. Applications are online only.

Craftsmen Training Scheme is the Directorate General of Training's flagship vocational programme, delivered through 14,643 Industrial Training Institutes in 169 NSQF-compliant trades of one-year and two-year duration. Students who have passed class 8 or class 10 apply through their state ITI admission portal and earn a National Trade Certificate.

DAY-NULM EST&P is the skill training component of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission, giving free market-linked training worth up to Rs 15,000 per urban poor trainee (Rs 18,000 in North-Eastern and special category states). Register at your municipal corporation or City Mission Management Unit.

Jan Shikshan Sansthan is a 100% centrally funded scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development that runs doorstep vocational training through 294 NGO-run institutes for non-literates, school dropouts and graduates aged 15 to 45. Fees are capped at Rs 100 a month and waived entirely for SC, ST, BPL and Divyangjan candidates.

NAPS is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development under which the government pays 25 percent of an apprentice's prescribed minimum stipend, up to Rs 1,500 a month, straight into the apprentice's bank account by DBT. Candidates aged 14 and above register free at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.

National Career Service is the free job portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment at ncs.gov.in, where more than 78.86 lakh jobseekers registered in FY 2025-26 and over 3.43 crore vacancies were mobilised. Jobseekers register free online or at any of the 407 approved Model Career Centres.

PM-DAKSH is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that gives free skill training to people aged 18 to 45 from SC, OBC, EWS, De-notified Tribe, safai karamchari and transgender backgrounds. Non-residential trainees with at least 80% attendance get a stipend of Rs 1,000 a month plus an NSQF certificate. Registration is free at pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in.

Skill India Digital Hub is the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's single national platform for skilling, launched on 13 September 2023. SIDH carries over 2,900 courses, apprenticeship and job listings, and NCVET-recognised certificates pushed to DigiLocker. Any Indian aged 14 or above can register free with a mobile number and Aadhaar-based e-KYC at skillindiadigital.gov.in.

Agnipath Yojana is the Ministry of Defence scheme that recruits youth aged 17.5 to 21 years as "Agniveers" into the Army, Navy and Air Force for a four-year engagement. Agniveers earn a package rising from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 a month and a tax-free Seva Nidhi of about Rs 11.71 lakh. Apply online through each service's recruitment portal.

The Buti Foundation Award is a scientific recognition for outstanding research in plasma science and technology, endowed by the Buti Foundation in memory of the work of plasma physicist Dr Bimla Buti. It is given to a young scientist or engineer, generally under 45 years of age, and carries a medal and citation. It is awarded through nomination, not through public application.

The Capacity Building for Service Providers - Entrepreneurship Programme (CBSP-EP) is a Ministry of Tourism scheme that gives free short-term hospitality and tourism entrepreneurship training to service providers so they can start their own tourism ventures. The Ministry provides 100% financial assistance to empanelled institutes; trainees of both genders pay no course fee.

Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) is a Ministry of Tourism scheme that funds short-term hospitality and tourism training. Its Skill Testing & Certification component tests and certifies existing service providers so their skills are formally recognised. Training is delivered free or subsidised through empanelled institutes; workers enrol via those institutes, not by a personal cash claim.

The Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme is a Ministry of Textiles programme that builds world-class shared infrastructure in mega handicraft clusters of more than 10,000 artisans, with government grant support of up to Rs 40 crore per cluster. Individual artisans cannot apply directly; a Special Purpose Vehicle implements each cluster.

The DESW Internship Scheme of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, engages Indian graduate and postgraduate students as interns to study welfare, healthcare, resettlement and administrative schemes for ex-servicemen. The internship runs for a minimum of 2 months and up to 12 months, ends with a research report, and is applied for online through a Google Form linked on the DESW website.

The National Fund for Persons with Disabilities, run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, gives financial assistance under eight components covering sports, arts, high-support needs, STEM education and more. Individual grants range from Rs 1 lakh for mobility equipment to Rs 1.5 lakh a year in tuition reimbursement. Applications are submitted online on the DEPwD website.

This scheme awards education scholarships to the children (wards) of registered beedi, cine, IOMC (iron, manganese and chrome ore mine) and LSDM (limestone and dolomite mine) workers, covering both pre-matric and post-matric study. It is run by the Directorate General Labour Welfare under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Eligible workers apply through the Labour Welfare Organisation.

ICAR Emeritus Professor is a scheme of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research that lets superannuated (retired) agricultural scientists and university teachers continue research and guide postgraduate students for a fixed tenure of generally up to 3 years. It is a competitive academic award for eligible retired professionals, not a benefit ordinary citizens can apply for.

ICAR Emeritus Scientist Scheme lets outstanding superannuated agricultural scientists of the National Agricultural Research System keep researching after retirement. Selected scientists receive an honorarium of Rs 50,000 per month over and above their pension, plus a contingency grant of Rs 2,00,000 a year and a research fellow. Applications are invited twice a year, in June and December.

The Jute Resource-Cum-Production Centre scheme lets the National Jute Board set up training-cum-production centres where a batch of about 20 people is trained to make jute diversified products. An implementing agency such as an NGO, SHG or cooperative runs each centre and receives financial assistance of up to around Rs 2.14 lakh per training cycle. Organisations apply, not individuals.

The NCCS Research Associates Scheme is a Department of Telecommunications programme that engages young engineering graduates in telecom security work at Bengaluru on a monthly stipend of Rs 75,000, with an annual increment of Rs 7,500, for a tenure of up to 2 years. Applicants need a relevant Bachelor's degree with at least 60% marks and apply when NCCS advertises openings.

National Youth Corps is a scheme of the Department of Youth Affairs, implemented through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, that engages young men and women aged 18-29 as full-time volunteers for up to two years. National Youth Corps volunteers receive an honorarium of Rs 5,000 per month. Selection is done by NYKS through its district Nehru Yuva Kendras.

PM-SPECIAL (Training of Geriatric Caregivers) is a skilling scheme of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment that trains people under 40 as professional caregivers for senior citizens. Certification is recognised under the National Credit Framework and includes placement support. Eligible candidates register free on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) was a digital literacy scheme that trained one person per rural household aged 14-60 in basic computer and internet skills. It targeted 6 crore people and trained 6.39 crore before ending on 31 March 2024. The scheme is closed to new enrolment; training ran mainly through Common Service Centres.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) under PMKVY certifies the skills workers already gained through experience or informal learning, without a long training course. Open to people aged 15 to 45 with prior experience in a job role, it provides a government-recognised skill certificate after assessment. Enrolment is free through PMKVY training centres and skillindiadigital.gov.in.

Part A of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) gives first-time EPFO members one month's EPF wage, capped at Rs 15,000, paid in two instalments after 6 and 12 months. It covers employees earning up to Rs 1 lakh a month who join an eligible establishment between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027.

Part B of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (the Employment Linked Incentive scheme) pays employers up to Rs 3,000 a month for each additional employee they create and sustain, for two years: four years for manufacturing. Employers apply through EPFO; there is no individual application. Covered employees earn up to Rs 1 lakh a month.

PM VIKAS is a skilling and entrepreneurship scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs that trains people from 6 notified minority communities and artisan families, with trainees receiving stipends and market linkages. It targets about 9 lakh beneficiaries over the 15th Finance Commission cycle across 4 components. Apply on the Skill India Portal via empanelled training agencies.

SAHAKAR MITRA is the National Cooperative Development Corporation's internship programme (SIP) that gives professional graduates and final-year students a paid internship of up to 4 months in the cooperative sector, with a stipend reported at around Rs 10,000 per month. It is run by NCDC under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Students apply online at sip.ncdc.in.

SITARE-Appreciation Grant is a BIRAC initiative under the Ministry of Science and Technology that awards Rs 1 lakh to promising undergraduate students who take part in the Biotech Innovation Ignition School. The grant helps top performers continue translational biotech research on their idea at their home institution or a partner lab. Students join through the BIIS workshop, not a direct public form.

The Skill Development and Training component of SMILE gives transgender persons free, market-linked vocational training with a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for non-residential courses. Applicants aged 18 to 45 holding a Transgender Certificate from the National Portal apply online at transgender.dosje.gov.in. There is no income limit.

The Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) helps identified manual scavengers and their dependents leave the occupation, offering a one-time cash assistance of Rs 40,000, skill training with a monthly stipend of Rs 3,000, and a capital subsidy of up to Rs 3.25 lakh on self-employment project loans. From 2023-24 its sanitation components are delivered under NAMASTE.

Shilp Guru Award is the highest national honour for handicrafts, given by the Ministry of Textiles to master craftspersons. Each awardee receives Rs 2,00,000 in cash, a gold coin, a shawl and a Tamrapatra. Applicants must be Indian citizens aged 55 or above with at least 20 years of craft experience, applying offline through their state handicrafts office.

The Skill Loan Scheme gives Indian students collateral-free loans of up to Rs 7.5 lakh to pay for skill development courses at ITIs, polytechnics and NSDC-affiliated training partners. Revamped on 25 July 2024, it raised the ceiling from Rs 1.5 lakh and offers banks a 75% credit guarantee through NCGTC. There is no age limit; apply at any participating bank.

The SECI Internship lets engineering, renewable-energy, finance and management students intern with the Solar Energy Corporation of India. It pays a stipend of Rs 8,000 a month for internships under 6 months and Rs 12,000 a month for longer ones. Durations run from a few weeks to 3 years by discipline. Apply online at seci.co.in between the 1st and 10th of each month.

Vocational Training in Tribal Areas is a 100% centrally funded scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs that sets up Vocational Training Centres to give Scheduled Tribe youth free, trade-based skill training for jobs and self-employment. Training is delivered by States, institutions and NGOs; ST candidates enrol at a centre, not with the Ministry directly.

Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B) is a Department of Science and Technology programme that funds women returning to research after a career break to work on societal problems. Selected scientists get a fellowship of Rs 31,000 to Rs 55,000 a month for up to 3 years. Women aged 27 to 57 apply online at online-wosa.gov.in.

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C), now run as WISE Internship in IPR, is a Department of Science and Technology programme that trains women scientists in Intellectual Property Rights for one year with a stipend of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month. Women aged 25-45 with a science degree and a career break apply online at tifac.org.in.