(a) whether the recent initiatives taken by the Government has yielded any fruits to bring down the unemployment amongst the youth which is stated to be about 17 per cent; (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) the manner in which the Government aims to tackle this demographic issue once in a generation through sustained efforts; and (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to solve the major issue of employability through quality of higher education?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Various programs/schemes are being implemented by different Ministries/departments of Central Government to bring down the unemployment amongst the youth. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development has informed that India Skill Report, 2019 by Wheebox, People Strong and CII states that 57% of the final year engineering graduates are employable which is marginal increase of 5% points since last year and the larger change of over 15% points in past 5 years. This clearly shows the efforts made by various stake holders including Government led skilling initiatives, University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in recent past have started creating an impact.Further, under PradhanMantriKaushalVikasYojana (PMKVY) 2016-20, a scheme of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), which focuses on employment approx. 16.61 Lakh
candidates have been placed across the country during 2016-2020. The State/UT-wise details are at annexure-I.
(c) & (d): In order to make education more relevant and to create ‘industry fit’ skilled work force, 3 schemes are being implemented by UGC under National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) which are Community Colleges (since 2013-14), B.Voc Degree Programme (since 2014-15) and DeenDayalUpadhayay (DDU) Kaushal Kendra (since 2015-16). There are 188 Community Colleges, 289 Institutions offering B.Voc Degree Programmes and 68 DDU KaushalKendras in which 68,663 students are enrolled in various skill programmes.Toincrease the employability of graduates in the country, acurriculum on Life Skills (JeevanKaushal) has been formulated by UGC to empower graduates with the vital skills like Self Competency and Confidence, Emotional Competency, Intellectual Competency, Professional Competency and Social Competency for global employment and for leading a successful life. UGC has also formulated Learning Outcomes based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) which aims to equip students with knowledge, skill, value and attitude.
Also, AICTE has taken many steps to bring down unemployment amongst the youth of the country. In the year 2018, AICTE introduced the Vocational Degree/ Diploma Programs leading to Degree or Diploma in Vocational Education under National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) for AICTE approved institutions.It has also formulated its Internship policy for students of Technical Education which mandates internship for all UG/ Diploma students.AICTE has made mandatory for all the intuitions to have industry institute cell. Every institute has to sign 5 MoUs with industry.All branches of Engineering and Technology shall offer Elective Courses in the EMERGING AREAS viz., Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Data Sciences, Cyber Security, 3D Printing and Design, Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality (AR/VR) as specified in the approval Process Handbook. *****