Key Points
- Over 23 lakh candidates enrolled in FutureSkills PRIME courses since launch
- Tamil Nadu leads with 5.89 lakh enrolments followed by Andhra Pradesh at 4.34 lakh
- Programme budget jumped from Rs 26.59 crore in FY23 to Rs 137.17 crore in FY27
The FutureSkills PRIME programme, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Nasscom, has enrolled more than 23 lakh candidates across India, with over 13 lakh receiving certifications in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data analytics, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday (12 August).
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union minister for Electronics and Information Technology, provided the data in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. The programme, launched as part of the Digital India initiative, offers over 500 industry-aligned courses through an online portal that allows candidates to access training anytime and earn skill certificates.
Tamil Nadu leads all states with 5.89 lakh enrolments and 3.61 lakh certifications, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 4.34 lakh enrolments and 2.44 lakh certifications. Karnataka ranks third with 2.10 lakh enrolments. The government said 41 per cent of participants are women and over 86 per cent come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Programme funding
The programme’s budget has grown substantially over five years. Allocation rose from Rs 26.59 crore in FY 2022-23 to Rs 137.17 crore in FY 2026-27. The scheme operates as a Central Sector initiative with funds allocated centrally rather than apportioned to individual states.
In the North Eastern and Himalayan regions, more than 33,000 candidates have enrolled through the online portal, with over 16,000 receiving certifications. This includes more than 700 candidates from Sikkim. The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology centres have additionally trained over 4,000 government officials from these regions, including 500 from Sikkim.
The government said 22 CDAC and NIELIT centres serve as lead and co-lead resource centres for ten emerging technologies. These centres have trained over 32,700 government officials, 2,367 trainers and more than 40,400 candidates through 420 bootcamps.
Institutional expansion
Under the IndiaAI Mission, 27 Data and AI Labs have been established through NIELIT centres to provide hands-on training in artificial intelligence and data science. Of these, 10 are located in North Eastern states and five in the Himalayan region.
By the numbers
- 23 lakh+
- candidates enrolled in FutureSkills PRIME
- Rs 137.17 crore
- FY 2026-27 programme allocation
- 5.89 lakh
- Tamil Nadu enrolments, highest nationally
SSC-Nasscom has signed memoranda of understanding with 17 state governments and over 2,000 academic institutions for adoption of FutureSkills PRIME courses into academic curricula under the National Credit Framework.
Partner states include Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with 14 academic institutions from North Eastern and Himalayan regions participating.
NIELIT operates 56 centres nationwide, with 22 located in the North Eastern region including a centre in Gangtok, Sikkim. The institute has trained over 31 lakh candidates across various programmes in the last three years, including 3.05 lakh from the North Eastern region and 20,000 from Sikkim.
Your Questions, Answered
What is FutureSkills PRIME and who runs it?
FutureSkills PRIME is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Nasscom for skilling, reskilling and upskilling candidates in emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and IoT.
How many candidates have been trained under FutureSkills PRIME?
More than 23 lakh candidates have enrolled in courses, and over 13 lakh have received certifications. The programme reports 41 per cent women participation and 86 per cent enrolment from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Which states have the highest enrolment in FutureSkills PRIME?
Tamil Nadu leads with 5.89 lakh enrolments and 3.61 lakh certifications, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 4.34 lakh enrolments and Karnataka with 2.10 lakh enrolments.
What is the budget for FutureSkills PRIME programme?
The programme budget has grown from Rs 26.59 crore in FY 2022-23 to Rs 137.17 crore in FY 2026-27, operating as a Central Sector Scheme with centrally allocated funds.
