Key Facts and Data Points

  • Launch: January 2018 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
  • Nature: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to operationalise the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM).
  • Total Outlay: Rs 4,455 crore.
  • Financing: Rs 3,300 crore World Bank loan + state leverage + industry contribution.
  • Implementation Period: Initially till March 2023, extended to March 2024.
  • Fund Utilisation (CAG, 2026): Only 44 % of the allocated funds were spent; a large portion of World Bank assistance remained unutilised.
  • Core Objectives:
  • Institutional strengthening at national, state and district levels (District Skill Committees, Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship).
  • Quality assurance – universalisation of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), standardised certification, trainer pool.
  • Inclusive skilling – higher participation of women, SC/STs and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
  • Key Achievements:
  • Strengthened District Skill Committees (DSCs) for demand‑driven implementation of PMKVY.
  • Promotion of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at Gram Panchayat level.
  • Development of the Skill India Portal for data capture.

Background and Context

  • The National Skill Development Mission (2015) envisioned a skilled workforce aligned with the NSQF. SANKALP was the flagship CSS to create the institutional architecture required for this mission.
  • The scheme is part of the broader Skill India initiative, which seeks to train 400 million people by 2022 (later revised).
  • Funding from the World Bank underscores the international partnership for capacity building in the Indian skilling ecosystem.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

  • Economic Impact: Enhances employability of marginalised sections, contributing to poverty alleviation and inclusive growth.
  • Governance: Demonstrates the challenges of inter‑governmental coordination (central‑state‑industry) and the importance of robust financial planning and monitoring mechanisms.
  • Policy Lessons: Low absorption highlights the need for:
  1. Strengthened project appraisal and implementation capacity at district level.
  2. Real‑time monitoring dashboards and accountability frameworks.
  3. Better state‑center synergy and industry participation.
  • Link with Other Schemes: Supports Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) by feeding trained trainers and institutional support.

Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions

  • Article 46 of the Directive Principles of State Policy – promotion of educational and economic interests of the weaker sections.
  • Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Act, 2022 (pending enactment) envisages a statutory framework for skill development, under which SANKALP’s institutional mechanisms could be formalised.
  • World Bank Loan Agreement (2018) – contractual obligations for fund utilisation and reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is SANKALP? A CSS launched in 2018 to operationalise NSDM through institutional strengthening, quality assurance and inclusive skilling.
  2. CAG Findings? Only 44 % fund utilisation; weak planning, delayed implementation, inadequate central monitoring.
  3. Funding Structure? Rs 4,455 crore outlay, primarily financed by a Rs 3,300 crore World Bank loan.
  4. Core Objectives? Institutional strengthening, NSQF‑based quality assurance, and increased participation of women, SC/STs and PwDs.

Relevance for UPSC: The scheme tests knowledge of skill development policies, inter‑governmental financing, implementation challenges, and links to constitutional principles of inclusive development.