Landscape of Skill Development in India UPSC

India is at a pivotal point in its economic development, with great growth potential but a formidable obstacle in closing the employment-unemployment divide. India is the fifth largest economy in the world, and part of its aim to create ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 includes equipping its young people with the skills needed to adapt to a changing labor market. This goal was emphasized in the most recent Union Budget 2024–25, which included large funding allocations for programs related to employment, education, and skill development. With almost 73% of workers between the ages of 15 and 59 lacking any official or informal vocational training, the challenge ahead is formidable.