SKILL INDIA MISSION: BRIDGING THE SKILL GAP FOR AN EMPOWERED WORKFORCE IN THE AGE OF AUTOMATION

India stands at the threshold of a demographic dividend, with nearly 75% of its population in the working age cohort.India faces a significant skill gap that could hinder its economic growth if not addressed.To tackle this challenge, the Skill India Mission was launched in 2015 to train over 400 million individuals in diverse trades. As of December 2024, over 16.03 crore(160million) candidates have been trained through PMKVY alone. Despite these efforts, only 42 54% of Indian graduates are considered employable, with youth unemployment especially in the 2024 age group hovering near 44 45%. This paper examines the necessity, structure, sub schemes,and socio economic impacts of the Skill India initiative,alongside the contemporary obstacles and opportunities in empowering Indias youth amid automation and AI disruption.