MSME Ministry Expands Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Initiatives

Delhi, August 8, 2024(PIB-MSME-Min.India) – The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME),India, continues to push forward its efforts to enhance entrepreneurship and skill development in India. Under the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP), the Ministry is actively encouraging youth from marginalized sections of society—including SC/ST communities, women, differently abled individuals, ex-servicemen, and those below the poverty line—to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship as career options.

The ESDP aims to promote the establishment of new enterprises, build the capacity of existing MSMEs, and create a robust entrepreneurial culture in India. The government’s budgetary support for ESDP over the next five years demonstrates its commitment to this mission:

To meet the growing demand for skilled labor, particularly in the MSME sector, the Ministry conducts a wide range of skill development and upskilling programs through its network of Technology Centres, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Coir Board, National Institute for MSMEs (NIMSME), and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (MGIRI). These programs are delivered under various schemes such as the National SC/ST Hub, Assistance to Training Institutions (ATI), ASPIRE, Coir Vikas Yojana, and the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP).

Courses offered by the MSME Ministry comply with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and are approved by organizations like the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), and State Council for Technical Education & Vocational Training (SCTE&VT). The courses are regularly updated to meet industry standards and demands.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is also contributing to the skilling efforts through the Skill India Mission (SIM), working closely with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The NSDC, in collaboration with 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), is responsible for assessing sector-specific manpower needs and ensuring skill competency standards are met. The Ministry delivers skill training through various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS).

This comprehensive approach is designed to provide the MSME sector with the skilled workforce it needs to thrive, while also empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs across the country.

This update was shared by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for MSME, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.