What happened?
The Government of India has registered FIRs against 41 Skill India training centres following a CAG audit that flagged major irregularities in implementation and use of funds under the skill development programmes. In addition, notices were issued to 11 connected entities for compliance failures.
Details from Parliament
- Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, informed the Rajya Sabha that these FIRs resulted from physical inspections of over 2,393 Skill India centres conducted over the past year.
- Beyond the 41 FIRs, the government found 178 training partners non compliant with PMKVY scheme requirements and issued show-cause notices to 11 entities.
- The inspections were carried out both physically at centres and virtually as part of newer verification processes.
What the CAG audit revealed
-
The CAG audit report covering PMKVY implementation highlighted glaring irregularities in the scheme, including:
-
Deficiencies in infrastructure and training quality
-
Improper use or misuse of funds
-
Irregular records and documentation problems
-
These findings prompted enforcement action by authorities.
Further investigation steps
-
The government has initiated a process to hire a forensic accounting firm to delve deeper into the audit findings and ensure accountability.
Why this matters
The Skill India Mission, particularly the PMKVY scheme, is one of India’s flagship programmes aimed at skilling youth and enhancing employability. The registration of multiple FIRs and notices reflects serious concerns about financial and administrative compliance in how public funds and scheme benefits have been managed.
