PM-DAKSH trained 1.87 lakh candidates; 96,162 secured employment
The Social Justice Ministry says the targeted skilling scheme was merged with PMKVY from 2024–25 to avoid duplication, as both programmes covered job roles listed on the Skill India Digital
According to an evaluation cited in the report, more than 90% of beneficiaries said the training aligned with their career goals and local labour market needs and achieved its intended learning outcomes.
NEW DELHI: A total of 1,87,305 candidates received training under the Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) scheme during 2020–21 to 2023–24, of whom 96,162 secured wage employment or self-employment.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment disclosed the figures in a factual report released on October 22. The reported employment figure represents approximately 51.3% of those trained.
Launched in 2020–21, the Central Sector Scheme provided skill training to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and sanitation workers, including waste pickers, to support employment and socio-economic development.
From 2024–25, PM-DAKSH was subsumed under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), administered by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The department said the merger sought to avoid duplication because PM-DAKSH drew its training job roles from the Skill India Digital Hub portal, and these were also covered under PMKVY.
The report put expenditure incurred to date at ₹309.5 crore against an allocation of ₹276.47 crore for 2020–21 to 2023–24. It did not explain the difference between the two figures.
PM-DAKSH was implemented through three departmental corporations: the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation.
These corporations reimbursed empanelled training institutes according to scheme guidelines and work orders. Institutes were required to facilitate wage employment or self-employment for at least 70% of trained candidates. Failure to meet that requirement resulted in forfeiture of the final instalment, equivalent to 30% of the training cost.
The department did not provide institute-level compliance figures or explain the gap between the aggregate employment rate and the placement requirement.
Training institutes were also required to collaborate with relevant industries to support employment opportunities. The three corporations offered loans and assistance to eligible beneficiaries seeking to establish their own enterprises.
According to an evaluation cited in the report, more than 90% of beneficiaries said the training aligned with their career goals and local labour market needs and achieved its intended learning outcomes.
The evaluation also reported improvements in confidence, self-esteem and social recognition, particularly among women and marginalised groups. Most beneficiaries continued to use their acquired skills and expected longer-term income growth, the department said.
