Railway minister on salient features of Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana

In a written statement to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the salient features of “Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana” 

1. The salient features of “Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana” are as under:-
   1. Entry-level training is provided at various Training Locations on Zonal Railways & Production Units.
   2. Training will be imparted to 50,000 candidates over a period of three years.
   3. The training is provided free of cost to the candidates.
   4. The eligibility criteria for the selection of the candidates is 10th Standard Pass with an age to be between 18 to 35 years. The selection is based on the merit of percentage marks obtained in the 10th Standard.
   5. Training is provided in Industry relevant trades such as Electrician, Welder, Machinist and Fitter etc.
   6. Successful candidates are awarded certificates for undergoing skill development training in the allotted trade.

There is no expenditure on Boarding and Lodging, as this scheme is a day programme. Further, there is no provision for a stipend or any other allowances to the trainees. Training is being provided within the existing infrastructure of Zonal Railways & Production Units.

2. The target for Indian Railways is to train 50,000 candidates in Technical Trades in three years. The training on Indian Railways is provided on Zonal Railways & Production Units, which are generally spread across more than one State/Union Territory. Candidates from any part of the country can join this training.
         
3. Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana has been launched on 17th September 2021 at 75 training locations of Zonal Railways & Production Units.

What is Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana?

Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana is a skill development initiative for India's unemployed youths that aims to provide technical training in a variety of trades in order to improve their employability and entrepreneurial skills. For qualified adolescents around the country, free training is being provided at Railway Training Institutes. Any Matric passed student between the ages of 18 and 35 can choose and apply for training both online and offline. After satisfactory completion of the training, a certificate will be issued.

The initiative was introduced as part of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, or PM Skill Development Programme, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Under this programme, the railway intends to train 50000 young people. It is proposed that the training be held in rural regions to aid kids who are less fortunate. The programme will be carried out over the course of three years. A total of 75 Indian Railways training colleges have been nominated to give training. Initially, a thousand people will be able to participate in the training. The training will be provided in four disciplines, according to the Railway Ministry: electrician, machinist, welder, and fitter. It will begin with 100 hours of basic instruction. Indian Railways' zones and industrial units will introduce training programmes in other trades based on regional requests and needs assessments. Banaras Locomotive Works has created the curriculum for this training. A nodal web portal is now being established as a single source of information on the programmes offered under this initiative, as well as notifications inviting applications, study materials, lists of selected participants, selection results, final assessments, and other details. Interested applicants may apply now in response to the local adverts that were posted in the initial round. Online application submission will soon be available through a consolidated web platform.

The Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana training will be delivered to candidates at no cost, and participants will be chosen from applications received online using a transparent system based on candidates' matriculation marks. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and have completed the 10th grade. Candidates in the Rail Kaushal Vikas scheme, on the other hand, will not be able to seek jobs in the Indian Railways network based on this training. However, based on their qualification and merit they will have a better chance of getting into a railway job.