Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme: Pathway To Upskilling (2025)

Policy Update
Atharva Salunke

Background:

The Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme, being one of the three flagship programs of the Union Sector ‘Skill India Programme’ of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is at the center of empowering the disadvantaged groups through skill development. Conceived in 1967 as Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP), its origin was in imparting non-formal education and vocational training to workers in urban industrial areas.

The first SVP was initiated at Mumbai by the commission of the Bombay City Social Council Education Committee. As the socio-economic scenario changed, the ambit of these centers widened, moving towards the education of non-literates, neo-literates, school dropouts, unemployed youths, women, and weaker sections such as SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and Divyangjan. SVPs were also renamed Jan Shikshan Sansthan in 2000 to mirror this widened mandate.

Transferred from the Ministry of Education in 2018 to MSDE,  JSS now focuses on flexible, low-cost, and accessible training at the local level with a priority on rural and low-income urban groups. With 100% government funding, JSSs are implemented through registered NGOs, allowing good local partnerships and grassroots reach.

Functioning:

Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) are community-based institutions that offer vocational and employability skills at low cost with accessibility to disadvantaged groups. Programme planning is made in accordance with the socio-economic requirements of the district, with active involvement of local stakeholders. This allows training programmes to be regionally topical with respect to local livelihood opportunities and community development.

The JSS has three general categories of programmes. Skill Training targets the development of vocational skills among beneficiaries for self and wage employment. Activities involve awareness campaigns, cultural activities, and community mobilization to create a conducive environment for skill development. Capacity Building Programmes aim to increase the knowledge and efficiency of trainers, staff, and partner organizations to ensure good quality delivery of training.

To ensure that training is inclusive, fees for courses are minimal and limited to ₹100 per month. Beneficiaries from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Divyangjan, Below Poverty Line families, and other economically weaker sections are exempted from payment. The collected fee is credited to the Development Fund and utilized solely for institutional development.

The administrative framework of a JSS includes a Board of Management, an Executive Committee, and staff. Grants-in-aid are disbursed by way of a Central Nodal Agency into Zero Balance Subsidiary Accounts. These funds are performance linked because annual targets obligate each JSS to train 1,800 beneficiaries and hence ensure accountability, efficiency, and measurable outputs.

Performance:

The Scheme has registered considerable success in reaching skill development to disadvantageous groups throughout the nation. Currently, 293 JSSs are operational in the financial year 2025-26, out of which 21 are located in Maharashtra and 29 in Madhya Pradesh. Aspirational Districts, Left Wing Extremity (LWE)-affected districts, hilly, island, and border districts have been given priority, thus ensuring the reach of the scheme to the most deprived sections.

Table 1: List of functional JSSs

Financially, the scheme has seen continued support. Budgetary support for the year 2025-26 alone is ₹185 crore. Proper accountability is ensured through annual Utilization Certificates and audited accounts. Defaulting and misuse of funds result in serious action, including the de-recognition of defaulting NGOs.

Table 2: Total funds released across the country from FY 2022-23 till 30th June 2025:

The performance of JSSs is tracked using the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) portal dashboard, which registers real-time statistics for enrolment, training, assessment, and certification. So far in the current report, 6,97,531 beneficiaries have been enrolled, out of which 5,14,802 have been trained successfully. 5,10,645 candidates have been assessed, and 5,10,480 have been certified, indicating a high conversion rate from enrolment to certification. This highlights both the efficiency and the credibility of the scheme’s implementation.

Impact:

The Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme has emerged as a major catalyst for inclusive growth by providing skill development to socio-economically weaker sections and connecting them with sustainable livelihoods. Today, 293 JSSs are operational in 26 States and 7 Union Territories. Together, they have trained 26.38 lakh beneficiaries, of whom 21.63 lakh are women, representing a staggering 82 percent of the total.

The scheme’s focused design makes the largest proportion of its beneficiaries fall in vulnerable groups. Approximately 75.86 percent are from Below Poverty Line families, 26.38 percent from Scheduled Castes, 13.54 percent from Scheduled Tribes, 34.86 percent from Other Backward Classes, and 10.02 percent from minority groups. The largest number of participants are youth, with 56.41 percent between the age group of 15 to 25 years, and 53.46 percent with only basic education.

By its active community linkage and participation of the local administration, JSS not only provides skill training in trades like dress making, beauty care, embroidery, driving aid, and computer operations but also creates an awareness in health, financial education, and environment problems to provide well-rounded empowerment and work towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Emerging Issues:

Despite significant efforts by the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme to engage underprivileged groups and improve basic skills, several concerns remain. The most problematic issue is the absence of a clear pathway from training to assured employment. The return on investment is low as beneficiary enrolments and certifications are high but the number of jobs or sustainable earnings secured is low, thus diminishing the impact of the scheme. 

The focus on basic level courses such as carpentry, electrician works, mechanics and tailoring is another concern. These courses do meet the needs of rural and low-income populations, but the lack of advanced skill courses and industry relevant courses limit the possibilities of obtaining better opportunities. 

Way Forward:

It is recommended that structured advanced courses be integrated into the curriculum of Jan Shikshan Sansthans. This will not only strengthen the growth trajectory of beneficiaries but also ensure inclusivity by enabling access to higher-level employment opportunities. Such courses, aligned with emerging sectors and industry needs, will help bridge the gap between basic skilling and advanced workforce requirements, thereby enhancing both livelihood sustainability and career progression.

It is advised to create a specialized digital portal for Jan Shikshan Sansthans that bridges trained beneficiaries with prospective employers directly. This platform will act as a recruitment interface where industries, MSMEs, and service providers can tap into a validated pool of skilled workers.

References:

1. Press Information Bureau. (2025, August 11). Number of functional JSSs. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2155052
2. Press Information Bureau. (2024, July 27). “Social sector should be vibrant and strong; Speed, skill, saturation and convergence is the mantra for developing the skill ecosystem”: Shri Jayant Chaudhary at JSS zonal conference in Rajasthan – 82% beneficiaries of Jan Shikshan Sansthans are women. PIB Jaipur. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2037961
3. Press Information Bureau. (2025, July 17). Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary inaugurates skill development centre at Amal College of Advanced Studies, Nilambur, and launched new-age courses, including AI, medical coding, digital and financial literacy: Jan Shikshan Sansthans are not just skilling centres, but beacons of hope for communities. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2145693
4. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. (2025). JSS live dashboard. Skill India Digital. https://www.skillindiadigital.gov.in/home-dashboard/jss-dashboard
5. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. (2025). Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS). Government of India. https://www.msde.gov.in/offerings/schemes-and-services/details/jan-shikshan-sansthan-jss-cjM4ATMtQWa
6. Press Information Bureau. (2025, February 1). Building a future-ready India. PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098551
7. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. (2021). Guidelines of Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme. Government of India. https://www.msde.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/04/JSS-Schemes-Guidelines-V2.pdf

About the Contributor:

Atharva Salunke is a Policy Research Associate at NITI TANTRA and a Research Intern at IMPRI. He has recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sir Parashurambhau College, Pune.

Acknowledgement: The author extends his sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

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