How Is India Skilling Its Youth? A Comprehensive Study

Skill development is the key instrument for achieving the target of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 in developing countries. The development of human capital in India is of global importance, given the prospects of India being the fastest growing economy of the world and poised to be the country with the largest working-age population in the world. Massive skill development momentum has built up in the country in the recent past, and elucidating this whole human capital development ecosystem in India is the objective of this study. This article traces the evolution of the skilling landscape in India and describes the present scenario on skilling schemes of both National (Central) and State governments in India. This study also discusses the challenges before policymakers interested in the development of human capital through skilling schemes in India and attempts to shed some light on the road ahead for skilling initiatives in the country.