Parliament Question: Skill Development for Healthcare Professionals

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2316 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

2316. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased

to state:

(a) whether the Government has introduced specialised skill programmes for nurses, paramedics and allied healthcare professionals and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the total number of candidates trained under such programmes during the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether Kerala has been covered under these initiatives; and

(d) if so, the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to facilitate overseas employment of such trained healthcare professionals? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c) : Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM) , the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country including Kerala. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready and equipped with industry relevant skills including in paramedical and allied healthcare sectors.

PMKVY: Under the PMKVY, the Ministry supports training in job roles relevant to healthcare services. The major healthcare job roles under PMKVY 4.0 include Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, General Duty Assistant, Geriatric Caregiver (Institutional & Home Care), Healthcare Hygiene and Housekeeping Aide, Assistant Yoga Instructor, Panchakarma Assistant and Genetic Counselor.

MSDE has launched the Training Programme for Multi-Skilled Caregivers under PMKVY, in line with the Union Budget 2026–27 announcements to skill 1.5 lakh caregiving professionals (1.3 lakh through MSDE ecosystem), creating a professionally trained workforce for healthcare, geriatric and home-based care while opening new employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.

NAPS: Under NAPS, apprenticeship opportunities are available across healthcare, paramedical, and allied healthcare sectors, based on the skill requirements of participating establishments.JSS: Under JSS Scheme, various healthcare-related skill development programmes are being implemented to enhance employability and livelihood opportunities, particularly for non- literate, neo-literate, school dropouts, etc. The healthcare-related courses offered under the JSS Scheme include Basic Health and Wellness Skills (Secondary School), Basic Health and Wellness Skills (Senior Secondary School), Fundamentals of POSHAK (Poshan Shiksha and Kaushal) for Anganwadi Karya Karta, Foundation Course in Healthcare, Front Line Health Worker, General Duty Assistant (GDA), Helpers for Hospitals and Nursing Homes, General Duty Attendant (GDA), Geriatric Assistant, and Optician.

CTS: Under CTS, the Healthcare Sector trades being offered through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) include Dental Laboratory Equipment Technician, Geriatric (old age) Care, Health Sanitary Inspector, Physiotherapy Technician, Radiology Technician, etc.

Coverage: Total number of candidates trained under the major skill development schemes of MSDE in paramedical and allied healthcare sectors since 2023-24 up to 30th June 2026 are

as under:

Scheme India Kerala PMKVY 1,20,588 2,361 NAPS 31,491 1,063 JSS 7,712 260 CTS* 48,862 160 * Session 2023 to 2025 Programme under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: As per Ministry of Health & Family Welfare one-year Post Basic Diploma programmes in various clinical specialties have been developed in the Residency Mode (Earn While You Learn) by the Indian Nursing Council

(INC), to strengthen the clinical competencies of registered nurses and to address the growing demand for specialized nursing care. These programmes provide structured, competency-based clinical training while enabling nurses to continue working during the course.

(d): MSDE has established and operationalized seven Skill India International Centres

(SIICs) in different states on a pilot basis to facilitate international employment opportunities for the Indian youth. Further, MSDE, through the National Skill Development Corporation

(NSDC), is facilitating overseas employment opportunities for healthcare professionals through country-specific workforce mobility initiatives. These initiatives include candidate mobilisation, language and domain-specific preparation, assessment and selection processes, employer engagement and deployment support in accordance with destination- country requirements. Under these initiatives, healthcare professionals have been trained for overseas opportunities through programmes such as the Japan Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) for Caregivers and the Israel Government-to-Government (G2G) Caregiver Programme.

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