The CM IT Fellowship Program 2026

The PM VIKAS scheme is a government initiative designed to empower six notified minority communities in India Read More... through focused skill development, education, and support for women's leadership and entrepreneurship. Read less

Details

In India, the government is committed to the holistic development of all citizens. The Pradhan Mantri Virasat ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme is a key part of this vision, specifically aiming to uplift six notified minority communities.

What Is This Scheme?

PM VIKAS is a central government scheme that brings together five previous initiatives under one umbrella. Its main goal is to boost the social and economic standing of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis. It does this by providing opportunities in areas like skill training, formal education, and fostering women's leadership and business ventures.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme is primarily for individuals from the six notified minority communities. It focuses on providing skills and education to young people and offers special support for women to become leaders and entrepreneurs. The scheme also ensures inclusion by earmarking a percentage of seats for persons with disabilities and allowing some seats for economically weaker sections from non-minority communities to encourage unity.

Why This Scheme Is Important

PM VIKAS is crucial for bridging developmental gaps and ensuring that minority communities have equal access to opportunities. By combining skilling, education, and entrepreneurship support, it aims to enhance employability, preserve cultural heritage, and promote economic self-reliance. The scheme's focus on women's empowerment is particularly significant, encouraging their active participation in society and the economy.

Objective

The PM VIKAS scheme is a government initiative designed to empower six notified minority communities in India through focused skill development, education, and support for women's leadership and entrepreneurship.

Benefits

Monthly Stipend:The scheme provides a stipend of ₹50,000/- per month during the 2-year program duration.Academic Qualification:Fellows are enrolled in a full-time M.Tech in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) program at IIIT Naya Raipur.Professional Experience:Fellows gain hands-on experience by working directly with government departments on data-driven policy making and digital transformation initiatives.Mentorship:The program offers mentorship from top academicians, IT leaders, and policymakers to help fellows grow as future-ready professionals.*Fellows are deployed at CHiPS or assigned departments for 4 months in Semester 2, 6 months in Semester 3, and 5 months in Semester 4 as part of the engagement.

Sources and references

Official Website

Who Can Apply for PM VIKAS?

Age: Applicants must be between 14 to 45 years old for skill training and education components. For women leadership and entrepreneurship, the age range is 18 to 45 years.
Women Reservation: A significant portion of seats is reserved for women: 33% in skilling and training, 50% in education, and 100% in the women leadership and entrepreneurship component.
Educational Norms: For skilling and training, qualifications should align with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) norms. For the education component, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) norms apply. Individuals with leadership potential are selected for the entrepreneurship component.
Inclusion: Up to 25% of seats in traditional skilling and 15% in other components can be offered to candidates from the economically weaker sections (EWS) of non-minority communities to foster solidarity.
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs): A 3% reservation is guaranteed for PwD candidates across all scheme components.

How to Apply for PM VIKAS

The application process for PM VIKAS is managed online through the Skill India Digital platform.

Visit the Portal: Go to the official Skill India Digital portal at https://www.skillindiadigital.gov.in/.
Register or Log In: If you are a new user, register as a Learner/Participant (Candidate). If you already have an account, log in using your credentials. Complete your e-KYC using your personal details.
Find Schemes and Courses: Once logged into your dashboard, look for the PM VIKAS scheme and the job roles offered under it. You can use filters like scheme type, mode of training, and sector to find courses that best suit you.
Apply for a Batch: Select a training batch for your chosen job role. You can express your interest or apply for up to five batches. These applications will be reviewed by the training partner or centre.
Confirm Enrolment: After your application is approved by the training partner or centre, you will receive an invitation. Accept this invitation through your portal to confirm your enrolment. You can track the status of your application in the 'Applications' section.

Documents You'll Need

Aadhaar Card
Aadhaar-linked Bank Account details
Educational Qualification certificates (relevant to the course you're applying for)
EWS Certificate (if you are applying as a non-minority candidate from an economically weaker section)

FAQ’s

Can non-minority individuals apply for the PM VIKAS scheme?

Yes, up to 25% of seats in traditional skilling and up to 15% in other components can be reserved for candidates from the economically weaker sections (EWS) of non-minority communities. This is to encourage inter-community solidarity.

What financial support is available for trainees?

Stipends are provided to beneficiaries: Rs. 3000 per month for traditional skilling, Rs. 2000 per month for modern skilling (non-residential), Rs. 1000 per month for modern skilling (residential, max 12 months), Rs. 1000 per month for the education component (max 6 months), and Rs. 200 per day for the women leadership and entrepreneurship component.

What is the age limit for applying to different parts of the scheme?

For the skilling and education components, you need to be between 14 and 45 years old. If you're applying for the Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship component, the age requirement is between 18 and 45 years.

How does the scheme help place trained candidates?

The implementing agencies are required to ensure placement for at least 75% of beneficiaries trained in modern skilling. At least 50% of these placements should be in organized sectors, as defined by the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) or Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship's Common Cost Norms.

Are there specific seats reserved for women under PM VIKAS?

Absolutely. The scheme has significant reservations for women: 33% of seats are for the Skilling and Training component, 50% for the Education component, and 100% for the Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship component.

What are the main areas of support provided by PM VIKAS?

PM VIKAS offers support in four key areas: Skilling and Training (both traditional and modern), Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Education (through NIOS), and Infrastructure Development (linked with Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram).

What qualifications are needed for the education component of the scheme?

For the education component, the standards set by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) apply. The scheme helps individuals who have dropped out of school to complete their 8th, 10th, and 12th grades.

What kind of skills can be learned through this scheme?

The scheme covers any skills that are approved by the National Skills Qualifications Committee (NSQC) and are registered in the National Qualification Register (NQR). This includes a wide range of traditional and modern skills.

How do I confirm my enrollment after applying for a training batch?

Once the training partner or centre approves your application, you'll get an invitation on your portal. You need to accept this invitation to finalize your enrolment. You can check the status of your applications in the 'Applications' section of your dashboard.

Are persons with disabilities (PwDs) included in the scheme?

Yes, the scheme is inclusive. A reservation of 3% of the scheme benefits is specifically earmarked for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across all its components.

Which communities are eligible to benefit from the PM VIKAS scheme?

The scheme is designed for individuals belonging to the six notified minority communities in India: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis.

Where can I find and apply for courses under the PM VIKAS scheme?

You can find and apply for courses on the Skill India Digital portal. After logging in, navigate to your dashboard and use the filters to search for PM VIKAS scheme courses or job roles that match your interests.