NEW DELHI, October 2 — The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Friday operationalized the upgraded, mobile-responsive portal of the 'Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi' (PM-DAKSH 2.0) scheme, sanctioning ₹450 crore to impart industry-aligned skill certification and wage-employment placement for 50,000 youth from marginalized communities.
According to the operational framework, the scheme targets beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), De-notified Tribes (DNT), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Safai Karamcharis (including waste-pickers). The certified curriculum—administered in partnership with Sector Skill Councils and government training institutes—spans four specialized modules: Up-skilling/Re-skilling, Short Term Training (200 to 300 hours), Long Term Training aligned with National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Level 5+, and Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP).
Ministry officials highlighted that non-residential trainees receive a direct attendance-linked wage compensation stipend between ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 per month disbursed via DBT into Aadhaar-seeded accounts. The digital portal features automated facial recognition authentication and direct linkage with the DigiLocker and National Career Service (NCS) portals.
The institutional framework of the PM-DAKSH scheme (launched in FY 2020–21 as a Central Sector Scheme), statutory finance corporations under the Ministry (NSFDC, NBCFDC, and NSKFDC), Directive Principles under Article 46 of the Indian Constitution (promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections), and the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) are vital topics across UPSC Civil Services (GS-II: Social Justice & Welfare Programmes) and State PSC examinations.