Model Answer

Despite the launch of various initiatives such as Skill India and its associated programs, skills gaps among India’s youth persist. Here’s an analysis:

Key Initiatives

1. Skill India Mission: Aimed at training over 40 crore individuals across different skills.
   • Programs like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, STRIVE, and SANKALP focus on industrial training, upskilling, and district-level skilling ecosystems.
2. Digital Initiatives: The DESH Stack e-portal and the Digital India Mission provide online skilling opportunities, while IT for Jobs targets the IT sector.

Persistent Gaps

1. Low Employability: Only 48.7% of educated youth are employable (India Skills Report 2022).
2. Lack of Vocational Training: 86.1% of individuals aged 15-59 have not received any vocational training (PLFS 2019-20).
3. Digital Skills Deficiency: 73% of youth lack basic email skills (NSSO survey).
4. Sector-Specific Skill Gaps: Only 2.5% of engineers possess AI skills, indicating gaps in future-focused training.

Conclusion

Despite these extensive programs, challenges such as inadequate access to vocational training, digital literacy gaps, and insufficient sector-specific skills persist. This limits the effectiveness of the initiatives in achieving their goals of equipping youth with employable skills.