IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/devpol/v43y2025i3ne70006.html

Shaping skills: A qualitative dive into India's evolving skill development policies

Author

Listed:
  • Dipika Dhiman
  • Ajay Solkhe

Abstract

Motivation In India's rapidly evolving economic landscape, skill development is essential for fostering socioeconomic progress. Despite the vast working‐age population, significant gaps persist between the skills available and those demanded by industries, particularly within the informal sector. Understanding the evolution and effectiveness of India's skill development policies is crucial to bridging these gaps and ensuring a workforce that meets contemporary economic demands. Purpose This study explores the evolution of India's skill development policies, examining the factors driving these changes and their alignment with the changing socioeconomic context of the country. It also identifies implementation gaps, investigates challenges in policy execution, and analyses strategic priorities shaping their development and delivery. Approach and Methods Using a qualitative content analysis, this study examines 25 key policy documents through the Walt and Gilson policy triangle framework, focusing on context, content and process. The analysis employs a deductive coding approach using NVivo software, involving an in‐depth examination of national policy documents, strategic frameworks, government reports, and guidelines. Findings The findings revealed that India's skill development policies have evolved to emphasize flexibility, with adaptable training models increasing from 1% focus in NSP 2009 to 12% focus in Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0. However, inclusivity has declined, dropping from 13% frequency in NSP 2009, and the initial focus on entrepreneurship (40% frequency in NSP 2015) has diminished in subsequent policies. Fragmented initiatives, unrealistic skill projections, and poor digital adaptability continue to hinder the effectiveness of these programmes. Policy Implications Holistic reforms are needed to improve co‐ordination among stakeholders and integrate soft skills into training. Investments in infrastructure, skilled trainers, expanding the private sector's role in skill development, and awareness campaigns will enhance accessibility and relevance. Addressing informal sector needs and aligning training with technological advancements will ensure an inclusive, future‐ready workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Dipika Dhiman & Ajay Solkhe, 2025. "Shaping skills: A qualitative dive into India's evolving skill development policies," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 43(3), May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:43:y:2025:i:3:n:e70006
    DOI: 10.1111/dpr.70006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.70006
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/dpr.70006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Card & Jochen Kluve & Andrea Weber, 2010. "Active Labour Market Policy Evaluations: A Meta-Analysis," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 120(548), pages 452-477, November.
    2. Mehrotra, Santosh & Parida, Jajati K., 2017. "Why is the Labour Force Participation of Women Declining in India?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 360-380.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dosi, G. & Pereira, M.C. & Roventini, A. & Virgillito, M.E., 2019. "What if supply-side policies are not enough? The perverse interaction of flexibility and austerity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 360-388.
    2. Baird, Matthew D. & Engberg, John & Gutierrez, Italo A., 2022. "RCT evidence on differential impact of US job training programmes by pre-training employment status," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Bandiera, Oriana. & Buehren, Niklas. & Burgess, Robin & Goldstein, Markus P., & Gulesci, Selim. & Rasul, Imran. & Sulaiman, Munshi., 2015. "Women’s economic empowerment in action : evidence from a randomized control trial in Africa," ILO Working Papers 994874053402676, International Labour Organization.
    4. Anders Gustafsson, 2019. "Busy doing nothing: why politicians implement inefficient policies," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 282-299, September.
    5. Srhoj Stjepan & Zilic Ivan, 2021. "“Fine...I’ll do it myself”: Lessons from self-employment grants in a long recession period," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Paradigm & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-32, May.
    6. Cerqua, Augusto & Urwin, Peter & Thomson, Dave & Bibby, David, 2020. "Evaluation of education and training impacts for the unemployed: Challenges of new data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Marguerite Clarke & Meghna Sharma & Pradyumna Bhattacharjee, 2021. "Review of the Evidence on Short-Term Education and Skills Training Programs for Out-of-School Youth with a Focus on the Use of Incentives," World Bank Publications - Reports 35045, The World Bank Group.
    8. Eichhorst, Werner & Rinne, Ulf, 2015. "An Assessment of the Youth Employment Inventory and Implications for Germany's Development Policy," IZA Research Reports 67, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Christoph Ehlert & Jochen Kluve & Sandra Schaffner, 2012. "Temporary work as an active labor market policy: Evaluating an innovative program for disadvantaged youths," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 32(2), pages 1765-1773.
    10. International Monetary Fund, 2015. "Central and Eastern Europe: New Member States (NMS) Policy Forum, 2014, Selected Issues Paper," IMF Staff Country Reports 2015/098, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Blattman, Christopher & Fiala, Nathan & Martinez, Sebastian, 2011. "Employment generation in rural Africa : mid-term results from an experimental evaluation of the Youth Opportunities Program in Northern Uganda," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 66523, The World Bank.
    12. Bernhard Boockmann, 2010. "The Combined Employment Effects of Minimum Wages and Labor Market Regulation—a Meta-Analysis," Applied Economics Quarterly (formerly: Konjunkturpolitik), Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 61(Supplemen), pages 167-188.
    13. John Martin, 2015. "Activation and active labour market policies in OECD countries: stylised facts and evidence on their effectiveness," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-29, December.
    14. Görg, Holger & Hornok, Cecília & Montagna, Catia & Onwordi, George E., 2018. "Employment to Output Elasticities & Reforms towards Flexicurity: Evidence from OECD Countries," IZA Discussion Papers 12004, IZA Network @ LISER.
    15. María laura Alzúa & Guillermo Cruces & Carolina Lopez, 2016. "Long-Run Effects Of Youth Training Programs: Experimental Evidence From Argentina," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(4), pages 1839-1859, October.
    16. Phillips, David C., 2014. "Getting to work: Experimental evidence on job search and transportation costs," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 72-82.
    17. Sandra Cavaco & Denis Fougère & Julien Pouget, 2013. "Estimating the effect of a retraining program on the re-employment rate of displaced workers," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 261-287, February.
    18. Leduc, Elisabeth & Tojerow, Ilan, 2020. "Subsidizing Domestic Services as a Tool to Fight Unemployment: Effectiveness and Hidden Costs," IZA Discussion Papers 13544, IZA Network @ LISER.
    19. Fidrmuc, Jarko & Lind, Ronja, 2020. "Macroeconomic impact of Basel III: Evidence from a meta-analysis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    20. Cain Polidano & Justin van de Ven & Sarah Voitchovsky, 2017. "The Power of Self-Interest: Effects of Education and Training Entitlements in Later-Life," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2017n12, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:43:y:2025:i:3:n:e70006. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/odioruk.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.