CAG finds glaring loopholes in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report on the government’s flagship skill development program, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) has underscored some glaring loopholes in the data management of assessors and trainees, including their bank account details.

The performance audit of the scheme between 2015 and 2022 was conducted in eight states. Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in three phases, the PMKVY entailed a combined outlay of Rs 14,500 crores with an objective to provide training to 1.32 crore trainees.

PMKVY is aimed at providing industry-level skill training and certification to secure sustainable livelihoods.

The report released on Thursday has pointed out that upon examining the data on trainees and assessors in 3.39 batches, it was found that the trainer ID was “Null” or “0” in the case of 2,30,758 batches involving 61,12,030 certified candidates.

Assessor's contact number was “null” or “none” in 3,27,220 batches, which certified more than 93 lakh candidates. This, despite the Skill India Portal data model, makes it mandatory to register trainer/ assessor names and mobile numbers.

The scheme guidelines also mandate that candidates should have valid bank accounts, as certified trainees are eligible to get Rs 500.

On data analysis, the CAG found the bank account field of more than 90.66 lakh of 95.90 lakh participants, ie, 94.53 percent contained zeros, ‘Null’. ‘NA’ or was blank. In the case of remaining 5,24,537 candidates, 12,122 unique bank account numbers were repeated for 52,381 participants in two or more instances.

The report points out that a large number of candidates not meeting the entry criteria for the job role requirement were certified under the scheme. For job roles requiring prior technical qualification, more than 84 percent were either uneducated, had basic literacy, or had regular education.

In a case study involving Kerala, placement claims of training providers TP were cross-checked. The investigation revealed, in one case, only 5 candidates got employment, as against a claim of 14 trainees.

Another company informed CAG that of the 17 candidates claimed by the TP, none were employed. On being pointed out by the CAG, the state government recovered more than Rs 22 lacs from the TPs involved.

Under the scheme, the TPs are released the third and final tranche of 20 per cent money allocated to them on the basis of the placement outcome of the candidates they had trained.

The PMKVY lacked a structured system for identifying, onboarding, and verifying targeted beneficiaries (unemployed youth, school/college dropouts). "There was no data retention policy to record electronic identities/contact details of trainers, assessors, and beneficiaries, weakening IT controls,” the audit report observed.

“Candidates were enrolled without meeting suitability criteria (age, education, work experience). Under ShortTerm Training, only 41 per cent of trained and certified candidates were reported as placed, with audit identifying irregularities in placement claims submitted by some Training Partners (TPs). RPL’s Best-in-Class Employer component also showed irregularities in agency selection, proposal scrutiny, assessment evidence, and monitoring,” the audit report observed.