In News:

• The Government of India launched the NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational training for Young Adolescent Girls) initiative in June 2025 to strengthen the socio-economic empowerment of adolescent girls (aged 16–18 years), particularly in aspirational districts.
• It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD).

Objectives of NAVYA

• Vocational Training: Provide demand-driven skilling in both traditional and modern sectors.
• Holistic Development: Cover modules on health, nutrition, hygiene, life skills, financial literacy, and legal awareness.
• Enhancing Employability: Facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and job linkages, along with promoting self-employment.
• Gender-Inclusive Skilling: Ensure a safe and supportive training environment for adolescent girls.
• Bridging Gaps: Connect education and livelihood opportunities in underserved and remote regions.

Key Features

• Coverage: Implemented across 19 States and 27 districts, including Barpeta (Assam), Gaya (Bihar), Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Nuh (Haryana), Chamba (Himachal Pradesh), Baramulla (J&K), Raichur (Karnataka), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Rayagada (Odisha), Dholpur (Rajasthan), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh), and Haridwar (Uttarakhand), among others.
• Beneficiaries: 3,850 adolescent girls are being trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0.
• Modern Job Roles: Training includes digital marketing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled services, green jobs, and other emerging sectors.
• Future Readiness: Modules on life skills, digital competence, and financial literacy prepare participants for evolving workforce demands.

Significance

• Strengthens women-centric skilling ecosystem.
• Promotes inclusive growth and gender equity in workforce participation.
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by creating a skilled workforce in emerging sectors.
• Contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

In News:

In line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and the government’s focus on women-led development, the Government of India has launched NAVYA—a pilot initiative aimed at vocationally skilling adolescent girls to empower them with future-ready skills and opportunities.

The programme was officially launched in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

About Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls (NAVYA):

• Objective:To provide vocational training to adolescent girls aged 16–18 years (with a minimum qualification of Class 10) in non-traditional job roles.
• Target Areas:Implemented as a pilot project in 27 districts across 19 States, including:
  • Aspirational districts
  • Districts in the North-Eastern States

This reflects the government's commitment to inclusive development and reaching underserved and vulnerable populations.

• Institutional Collaboration:
  • Both ministries will formalize convergence to streamline and institutionalize skilling efforts for adolescent girls.
  • NAVYA draws upon existing frameworks like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and other flagship skill development schemes.

Significance of NAVYA:

Aspect                                               Importance

Empowerment              -           Enhances skills, confidence, and self-reliance among young girls

Gender Inclusion             -       Supports women-led development and economic participation

Employment Readiness   -  Equips girls with job-oriented skills in non-traditional sectors

Regional Equity         -               Targets backward and underserved regions to reduce disparities

Demographic Dividend    -   Harnesses the potential of India’s adolescent population in national development

“NAVYA represents a transformative step in ensuring that every adolescent girl becomes a catalyst for change in India’s journey towards an inclusive, skilled, and developed future.”