PIB Summary - 14th July 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

North East India’s SDG Progress (2023–24)

Overview & Coverage

• 121 out of 131 NE districts assessed. expanded from 103 (2021–22).
• Tracks 15 out of 17 SDGs using 84 indicators (41 from central, 43 from state sources).
• SDG 11 included only for 79 urban districts; SDG 14 excluded; SDG 17 minimally relevant.
• Classification:
  • Achiever (Score = 100)
  • Front Runner (65–99.99)
  • Performer (50–64.99)
  • Aspirant (<50)
• Relevance: GS 2 (Governance)

Key Outcomes

• 103 districts (85%) are now Front Runners (vs 62% in 2021–22).
• Top Scoring District. Hnahthial (Mizoram) – 81.43
• All districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura are Front Runners.

SDG-Wise Progress (2021–22 → 2023–24)

Top 10 Performing Districts (NER)

Mizoram: Hnahthial, Champhai, Kolasib Tripura: Gomati, West Tripura, South Tripura Nagaland: Mokokchung, Kohima, Dimapur Sikkim: Gangtok

State-wise Highlights

Mizoram

• 100% districts Front Runners
• Best: Hnahthial (NER’s highest score)
• Strong in SDGs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16

Sikkim

• All 6 districts Front Runners
• Smallest intra-state gap (5.5 pts)
• Best: Gangtok | Balanced across SDGs

Tripura

• All 8 districts Front Runners
• Top: Gomati | Strong across 9 SDGs
• Low disparity (6.5 pts between best-worst)

Nagaland

• 9 of 11 districts Front Runners
• Wide performance gap (15.07 pts)
• Strong in SDGs 2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15

Assam

• 89% districts are Front Runners
• Best: Dibrugarh | Needs work in justice systems

Arunachal Pradesh

• Only 59% Front Runners
• Best: Lower Dibang Valley | Worst: Longding (NER’s lowest score – 58.71)
• Challenges in SDGs 9, 13

Manipur

• 75% Front Runners
• Top: Imphal West | Weak in SDG 10 (Inequality)

Meghalaya

• 84% Front Runners
• Top: East Khasi Hills | Weak in Education (SDG 4)

Key Takeaways

• High Performers: Health, Education, Water, Gender Equality, Economic Growth.
• Lagging Areas: Climate Action (SDG 13), Inequality (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption (SDG 12).
• Flagship Schemes: Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat, Aspirational Districts Programme contributed strongly.
• Disparities Persist: Nagaland: 15.07 pt gap between best-worst districts Sikkim & Tripura: Least disparities, highest uniformity

Governance & Systemic Impact

• Data Systems: Significant improvements in district-level data reporting.
• Localisation: Strong correlation between state-driven planning and SDG performance.
• Peer Learning: Index fosters competitive federalism & inter-district collaboration.

Conclusion

The NER SDG Index 2023–24 marks major progress in NE India’s sustainable development landscape.

•  85% of districts now Front Runners, up from 62% in 2021–22. 
•  Balanced progress across most SDGs, but climate resilience and inequality remain critical challenges. 
•  The Index stands out as a planning, performance, and policy tool — not just a ranking mechanism. 

A Decade of Building Skills & Empowering Dreams

Macro Achievements (2015–2025)

•  Over 6 crore Indians have been empowered through skill development schemes since 2014. 
•  More than 1.63 crore candidates trained under PMKVY across four phases. 
•  Over 25 lakh candidates trained under PMKVY 4.0 as of July 11, 2025. 
•  Training has expanded to include futuristic domains such as AI, Robotics, IoT, Drones, and Mechatronics. 
•  45% of PMKVY trainees are women, with significant representation from SC, ST, and OBC communities.  

Skill India Mission (SIM) – Structural Integration (2022–26)

•  The Skill India Mission has been unified under a single Central Sector Scheme approved in 2025. 
•  The following schemes have been merged: 
• PMKVY 4.0: Focused on short-term skill training and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). 
• PM-NAPS: Emphasizing apprenticeship and industry engagement. 
• JSS: Vocational training with a literacy focus. 
•  Two new Centres of Excellence have been established at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad and Chennai to enhance the quality of skilling. 

PMKVY: Phased Evolution & Milestones

PMKVY 4.0: New Features & Focus (2022–2026)

• Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH): End-to-end digital integration of skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship. 
• Academic Bank of Credits: Transferable skill credits to bridge the education-vocational divide. 
• Financial Utilization:. 1244.52 crore utilized across states and Union Territories by December 2024. 
• Focus on Career-Oriented Skilling: Encourages skilling for career advancement rather than just placement tracking. 

Innovative & Inclusive Initiatives

• Special Projects: Training initiatives for specific communities and groups, including: 
•  Bru-tribe training in Tripura (2,500+ individuals trained) 
•  Jail inmates in Assam and Manipur 
• PANKH Project: 13,834 individuals trained, with 70% being women. 
• Traditional Skills: Training initiatives focused on traditional crafts, including: 
•  2,243 women trained in Namda craft in Jammu and Kashmir 
•  9,605 artisans skilled through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland 

COVID-19 Response: Training of 1.2 lakh healthcare workers as COVID Warriors. 

• Skill Hub Initiative: 1.23 lakh individuals trained through school and college-based hubs, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 
• Mainstreaming with National Missions: Skills integrated into various national missions, including: 
•  PM Surya Ghar 
•  Vibrant Villages Programme 
•  Jal Jeevan Mission 
•  Green Hydrogen Mission 

Supporting Schemes in the Skilling Ecosystem

• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS): Focused on training non-literates and school dropouts aged 15 to 45 years, with an emphasis on women, SC, ST, OBC, and minority groups in rural and low-income urban areas. Over 26 lakh individuals trained from FY 2018-19 to 2023-24. 
• PM-NAPS (Apprenticeship): Engaging apprentices in various sectors, with 43.47 lakh apprentices engaged as of May 2025 and over 51,000 establishments participating in the scheme. 
• PM Vishwakarma Yojana: Supporting traditional trades such as blacksmithing, cobbling, and pottery, with a budget of ₹13,000 crore. As of July 2025, over 2.7 crore applications submitted and 29 lakh registrations completed. 
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): Targeting rural youth for skill development, with 16.9 lakh trained and 10.97 lakh placed (approximately 65% placement) by November 2024. 
• Rural Self Employment & Training Institutes (RSETIs): Providing bank-led residential entrepreneurial training, with 22.89 lakh candidates trained in 2016-17 and 56.69 lakh trained from 2025-26 (up to June). 

Thematic Impact

Conclusion

• PMKVY has evolved into the backbone of India’s short-term skilling ecosystem over the past decade. 
•  The program has transformed from a focus on placement-linked certification to flexible, future-ready career empowerment. 
•  PMKVY is now integrated with national missions, the NEP 2020, and digital governance frameworks. 
•  The initiative plays a crucial role in Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, ensuring that India’s youth are not only employable but also entrepreneurial and globally competitive.