Viksit Bharat @ 2047: India’s Employment and Skilling Transformation – Building a Future‑Ready Workforce
As India enters the mid‑point of its Amrit Kaal journey, the focus of the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries (27‑28 December 2025) is squarely on Employment, Skilling, and Human Capital Growth for Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The conference, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to align states and the Centre toward a unified labour and skilling vision that will anchor India’s next two decades of growth.
For UPSC aspirants, this theme bridges GS Paper 2 (Governance, Human Resource Development) and GS Paper 3 (Economy, Employment, Skilling, Inclusive Growth)—making it one of the most strategically important topics of the year.
Current Employment Landscape in India (2025)
India’s employment patterns are in transition from informal, agriculture‑dominant livelihoods to diversified skill‑based sectors:
| Sector | Share of Employment (2025) | Total Jobs (Cr) | Trend Analysis | UPSC Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 43% | 21.5 Cr | Gradual reduction, labour moving to services | VB-G RAM G Act, rural diversification |
| Manufacturing | 20% | 10 Cr | Uptick with Make in India 2.0 & PLI Schemes | GS-3: Industrial Policy |
| Services | 37% | 18.5 Cr | Digital, logistics, tourism dominating new jobs | Digital India, Gig Economy |
| Construction | 12% | 6 Cr | Infrastructure boom (PM Gati Shakti) | PMGSY-IV, Housing for All |
| Startups/Green Tech | <2% (rising) | 1.1 Cr | Emerging segment under EV, renewable policies | Startup India 3.0 |
| Total Workforce | 100% | 50 Cr | PLFS 2025 Estimates | |
The unemployment rate stands around 6.3 % (CMIE Nov 2025); however, underemployment and skill mismatch remain major challenges.
Key Employment Drivers Under Viksit Bharat @ 2047
(a) Skilling and Vocational Reforms
- Skill India Mission 2.0 aims to train 20 crore youth by 2030.
- New National Skills Framework 2047 launched at the Chief Secretaries Conference will integrate school, ITI, and university curricula.
- PMKVY 4.0 focuses on green jobs (solar tech, waste management, EV maintenance).
- VB‑G RAM G Act 2025 links rural employment programmes with skill certification.
(b) Entrepreneurship and MSME Expansion
- Startup India 3.0 recorded 1.3 lakh registered startups and 1.1 million jobs (2023‑25 period).
- Focus on district‑level innovation clusters, Digital India learn & earn hubs.
- MSME formalisation under UDYAM 2.0 ensures EPFO and ESIC coverage for workers.
(c) Infrastructure and Manufacturing
- PMGSY IV and PM Gati Shakti projects are expected to create 1.2 crore direct & indirect jobs by 2027.
- PLI Schemes across 14 sectors (including semiconductors, EVs and pharma) generate high‑productivity employment.
(d) Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a Job Enabler
- India’s Digital Public Stack (UPI, DigiLocker, Skill India Digital Platform) creates millions of tech and data‑linked jobs.
- Over 12 lakh freelancers work through DPI‑based platforms under MEITY’s Digital Workforce Mission.
Youth and Women in the Workforce
Women’s Participation
- Female labour‑force participation rate (FLFPR) rose from 25 % in 2018 to 36 % in 2025 (PLFS Data).
- The government’s SAMARTHYA 2025 Programme promotes women‑led micro‑enterprises.
- VB‑G RAM G Act 2025 reserves 40 % of jobs for SHG members.
Youth Employment
- Skill and Aspirations Survey 2025 highlights that 80 % of Indian youth seek entrepreneurial careers.
- NITI Aayog’s Young India Internship Scheme engages students in governance projects — building policy literacy.
Policy and Institutional Anchors
| Institution | Major Initiative (2024-2025) | Objective | UPSC Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship | National Skilling Platform (NSP-2047) | Unified database for tracking training outcomes | GS-3: Skill India Mission |
| NITI Aayog | 5th Chief Secretaries Conference 2025 | Align state skill missions with Viksit Bharat | GS-2: Cooperative Federalism |
| Ministry of Rural Development | VB-G RAM G Act Implementation | Skill-linked employment guarantee | GS-3: Rural Economy |
| Ministry of Education | National Credit Framework | Transferable credits for vocational learning | GS-2: NEP 2020 |
| Ministry of Labour & Employment | National Jobs Exchange Portal 2.0 | AI-enabled employment matching | GS-3: Labour Reforms |
| MSDE Total Target | 20 Cr youth skilled by 2030 | Viksit Bharat Human Capital Mission | |
Challenges and Reforms Required
- Skill Mismatch: Industry‑ready skills lag behind academic output. Only 54.8 % graduates are employable (India Skills Report 2025).
- Informal Employment (66 %) still dominates the workforce; labour law implementation lags in many states.
- Low Female Labour Share — social norms and safety concerns reduce urban FLFPR.
- Regional Disparity: Northern and eastern states account for 70 % of unemployed youth.
- AI Disruption Risks: Automation, gig economy jobs, and freelancing need new social security frameworks.
Way Forward – Strategies from the Chief Secretaries Conference 2025
- State‑Specific Skill Corridors: Every state to create a “Skill Cluster Plan” linked to local industry niches.
- Green and Blue Economy Jobs: Mass training in waste management, EV, renewable energy, and coastal infrastructure.
- Labour‑Market Analytics: Establishing National Skill Observatories with AI‑driven jobs forecasting.
- Employment Linked Incentives (ELI): Grants to MSMEs for each formal hire registered under EPFO.
- Women Entrepreneurship Mission (‘Udyam Sakhi 2.0’) — ₹ 5,000 crore fund for women‑led startups.
Relevance for UPSC Preparation
Prelims Focus:
- “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” vision document
- VB‑G RAM G Act 2025 and Skill India Mission 2.0
- India Skills Report 2025 data (54.81 % employability)
- Chief Secretaries Conference (NITI Aayog)
Mains Themes:
- GS‑2 / GS‑3: “Evaluate the government’s approach towards employment generation and skilling within the Viksit Bharat framework.”
- Essay: ‘India’s Demographic Dividend to Human Capital — Pathway to 2047’.
FAQs on Viksit Bharat @ 2047
Q1: What is the focus of the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries (27-28 Dec 2025)?
A: Chaired by PM Narendra Modi, the conference focuses on human capital transformation, skilling revolution, employment generation strategies, and Viksit Bharat@2047 roadmap through cooperative federalism.
Q2: How many jobs does Viksit Bharat@2047 aim to create?
A: Target of 10 crore formal jobs through skilling, internships, MSME formalisation, and infrastructure projects like PMGSY-IV and PM Gati Shakti by 2030.
Q3: What is VB-G RAM G Act 2025 and its employment guarantee?
A: Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) guarantees 125 days employment (80 unskilled + 45 skilled) per rural household, replacing MGNREGA with skill-linked livelihoods.
Q4: What is India’s graduate employability rate as per India Skills Report 2025?
A: 54.81% of graduates are employable, with rural youth at 42%. Key gaps in Industry 4.0 skills like AI, digital literacy, and green jobs.
Q5: How has female labour force participation changed?
A: FLFPR rose from 25% (2018) to 36% (2025). VB-G RAM G reserves 40% jobs for women SHGs; SAMARTHYA 2025 promotes women-led micro-enterprises.
Q6: What are the major skilling initiatives under Skill India 2.0?
A: PMKVY 4.0 (20 crore youth by 2030), National Skills Framework 2047, 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs, district skill corridors, and Employment Linked Incentives for MSMEs.
Q7: UPSC relevance of employment & skilling reforms?
A: GS-2 (governance, federalism), GS-3 (economy, HRD). PYQs on demographic dividend, NEP 2020, MGNREGA evolution. Essay: “Skilling for Amrit Kaal”.
Q8: What are the key challenges in India’s employment landscape?
A: Skill mismatch (54.8% employability), 66% informal workforce, regional disparities, AI disruption risks, and low female urban participation.
Conclusion
India’s employment debate can no longer revolve around job numbers alone. The true benchmark of progress will be quality, productivity, and formalisation of employment. The 5th Chief Secretaries Conference places this front and centre — creating a coordinated blueprint that merges education, skilling, and industry demand.
As India eyes its centenary of independence, the message is clear:
“Viksit Bharat @ 2047 will be built by the skills, innovation, and aspiration of its people.”
