Centre’s NAVYA initiative, launched on June 16, 2025, aims to empower 16–18-year-old girls from rural and tribal areas with vocational training in non-traditional roles like AI and robotics. Covering 27 districts across 19 states, the program seeks to foster self-reliance and economic growth through skill development, aligning with India’s vision for a future-ready workforce.
Centre’s NAVYA Program Targets Rural Girls for Vocational Skilling
On June 16, 2025, the Government of India launched ‘NAVYA’—Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls—a pilot project aimed at equipping girls aged 16–18 from underprivileged and rural backgrounds with skills for non-traditional and emerging job roles. Implemented across 27 districts in 19 states, the initiative is a joint effort by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
The program focuses on fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, healthcare, and renewable energy, which are seen as critical for India’s economic future. Each participating district will have dedicated training centres offering job-role-specific courses tailored to the needs of adolescent girls. These centres aim to provide hands-on training, ensuring participants are job-ready upon completion. The MWCD has identified eligible girls with at least a Class 10 education, prioritizing those from aspirational and tribal districts to bridge regional and socio-economic gaps.
Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, emphasized the program’s vision, stating, “NAVYA marks a milestone in our shared mission to empower adolescent girls. Through vocational training, we aim to help them become self-reliant and confident citizens.” The initiative also aligns with the government’s broader goal of addressing youth unemployment, which, according to a recent Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, affects over 20% of the world’s 1.3 billion young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
The program’s launch comes at a time when only 4.5% of India’s workforce has formal vocational training, as highlighted in the “Skills for the Future” report. NAVYA seeks to address this gap by integrating modern curricula with industry demands, ensuring participants are equipped for roles in high-growth sectors. The initiative also plans to collaborate with local industries to provide apprenticeships and job placements, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for skill development.
In addition to technical training, NAVYA includes modules on financial literacy and entrepreneurship to encourage self-employment and innovation. This approach is expected to empower rural girls to contribute to their communities’ economic growth while challenging traditional gender roles in the workforce. The program’s rollout in tribal-dominated districts also aims to address the challenges faced by particularly vulnerable tribal groups, as outlined in the PM JANMAN scheme.
The launch event, held in New Delhi, saw participation from state officials, industry leaders, and community representatives, who hailed NAVYA as a step toward inclusive growth. The government plans to evaluate the pilot’s impact over the next year, with potential for nationwide expansion based on its success.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information sourced from government announcements, news reports, and related studies available as of July 6, 2025. The data and statements are accurate to the best of our knowledge but subject to change as new information emerges.