Is India Ready for a Skilled Future? How ₹2,600 Cr is Powering a Skilling Revolution

In a country of over 1.4 billion people, the question isn’t just how many hands are working — it’s how many are skilled to work in the industries of tomorrow.

Recognising this critical need, the Government of India has been actively strengthening its skill development ecosystem through two flagship programmes: the Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) and the PM - National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS). And the impact is starting to show.

Under STRIVE, the government has already utilised ₹711 crore to modernise India’s skilling infrastructure. This isn’t just an upgrade in hardware — it’s a comprehensive push to bring the country's skilling institutions in sync with real industry needs.

More than 500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across 34 States and Union Territories have undergone major transformations — from upgrading machinery and tools to building new training facilities that simulate real-world industrial environments.

But STRIVE goes beyond buildings.

With 90+ industrial clusters now actively participating, and a focus on multi-stakeholder partnerships involving government bodies, private industry, and training institutions — India is laying the foundation for a sustainable and scalable skilling model. A model where skills aren’t taught in isolation, but with an eye on actual demand from the job market.

“This is not just about infrastructure; STRIVE is about equipping India’s youth with practical, market-relevant skills, supporting small enterprises, and creating opportunities for underserved communities,” stated the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Apprenticeship Takes Centre Stage: A Cultural Shift in Skilling

While STRIVE focuses on creating an enabling environment, PM-NAPS is bringing skill-building to the shop floor.

And the numbers are striking.

As of July 2025, 96% of the ₹1,942 crore allocated under PM-NAPS Phase 2 (2022–2026) has already been used — a clear indicator of robust implementation and rising adoption across sectors.

Highlights of PM-NAPS so far:

• 44 lakh+ apprentices enrolled across multiple industries

• 51,000+ establishments actively participating in apprenticeship programs

• 3,000+ new apprenticeship contracts being signed every single day

These figures reflect a deeper transformation underway — one where “learning by doing” is no longer just a Western concept, but a mainstream path for India’s youth.

“This is more than just data. It’s a reflection of India’s growing commitment to apprenticeship as a tool for workforce transformation,” the Ministry added.

Apprenticeships are becoming a win-win proposition — giving young learners real industry exposure, while enabling enterprises to groom talent from the ground up, aligned with their unique needs.

Skilling India the Smart Way: Industry-Aligned, Impact-Focused

Both STRIVE and PM-NAPS share a common goal — building an India that’s not just working, but thriving on skills. These aren’t standalone initiatives; they are part of a broader national mission to realise the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision — a self-reliant, skilled, and empowered India by 2047.

What sets these programmes apart is their focus on practical outcomes rather than just bureaucratic box-ticking. STRIVE’s focus on institutional strengthening and industry linkages, paired with PM-NAPS’s on-ground apprenticeship drive, is creating a feedback loop of demand-driven skilling.

For startups and SMEs — the lifeblood of India's economic growth — this means access to a growing pool of job-ready talent trained on modern tools, technologies, and workflows. And for India’s massive youth population, it’s a shot at dignified employment and upward mobility.

Backed by Vision, Powered by Partnership

It's worth noting that STRIVE is supported by the World Bank, and is designed not just for quick-fix changes but for long-term institutional transformation. On the other hand, PM-NAPS is incentivising employers to take on apprentices and promoting greater awareness among young job seekers.

Together, they are crafting a more inclusive, modern, and resilient skill development ecosystem — a critical need as India gears up to become a global economic powerhouse.

As India’s startups scale and industries evolve with AI, automation, and green technologies, the demand for new-age skills will only intensify. STRIVE and PM-NAPS are planting the seeds for a responsive ecosystem that can meet these demands at scale.

The success of these schemes shows that India isn’t waiting for the future to arrive — it’s building it, one skill at a time.

And in this story of transformation, the heroes aren’t just policymakers — they’re the youth who choose to learn, the companies who choose to train, and the institutions that choose to evolve.