Lucknow: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has informed the Lok Sabha that Indian Railways has trained 31,839 youth across the country, including 5,862 beneficiaries from Uttar Pradesh, under the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister said that Indian Railways has developed a comprehensive training ecosystem aimed at effective skill development, re-skilling and up-skilling. While the system primarily caters to railway employees at various stages of their careers, it also extends structured technical training to youth to enhance their employability and promote entrepreneurship.
Vaishnaw stated that to support this initiative, Indian Railways has established an extensive network of training centres across all zonal railways and production units. These centres are spread across divisions and workshops within railway zones, ensuring wide geographical reach.
Highlighting the objectives of the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, the Minister said the scheme was launched in September 2021 as an all-India, entry-level skill development programme covering 16 technical trades. The aim of the scheme is to empower trained candidates for wage-based employment as well as self-employment opportunities.
Under the scheme, free training is being provided through 98 railway training centres across the country. Youth from any part of India are eligible to participate in the programme. Of these, 14 training centres are located in Uttar Pradesh, including facilities in Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Lalganj, Izzatnagar and Chandauli.
The training centres in Uttar Pradesh include supervisory training centres, basic training centres, electric traction training centres, signal and telecommunication training centres, and multi-disciplinary divisional training institutes functioning under various railway units and workshops.
The Union Minister further informed that since the launch of the scheme, 5,862 youth from Uttar Pradesh have benefited from the programme, including 64 trainees from Saharanpur district.
Vaishnaw emphasised that the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana plays a crucial role in strengthening the skill ecosystem of the country by equipping youth with practical technical knowledge and industry-relevant skills. He added that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision of enhancing employability, promoting self-reliance and supporting inclusive economic growth through skill development.
