Neoliberal economic policies and development: a case study of Skill India Mission

The Skill India Mission program, launched in 2015, aims to upgrade the skills of India's vast workforce through industry-specific training for young people, enhancing their employability and driving economic growth. Unlike the traditional, state-driven Vocational Education and Training system, Skill India leverages market forces for training and funding. This aligns with India's broader economic policies since liberalisation, which have emphasised market-oriented approaches. While these policies spurred rapid economic growth, foreign investment, and technological advancements, they also resulted in widening wealth gaps, inadequate job creation, and sustainability concerns. Like this the Skill India Mission also faces significant challenges such as poor training quality, inadequate funding, and limited job placements for graduates. Research indicates in several other cases that private sector involvement in training, driven by short-term profit motives, often leads to inadequate training quality, widens rural-urban gaps, neglects essential rural skills, and exacerbates inequalities. The study, further, argues for a balanced approach with state and market co-investment in skills training, alongside robust social infrastructure. This is critical for the Mission's long-term success and achieving inclusive development.