Arshid Ali
Srinagar, Aug 04: Over the past decade, Jammu and Kashmir has seen significant government intervention to tackle youth unemployment through comprehensive skilling and financial assistance programs.
According to the latest data presented in the Lok Sabha on August 4, 2025, under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a total of 4,29,204 youth from Jammu and Kashmir have received skill training in various sectors since 2015.
Of these, 52,629 individuals were successfully placed in jobs under the first three versions of the scheme (PMKVY 1.0 to 3.0). Under the ongoing PMKVY 4.0, the government’s approach has shifted toward career-oriented empowerment, enabling trained individuals to explore self-driven employment paths, assisted by tools such as the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).
Beyond training and placements, the government has also extended financial support to promote self-employment. Under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Jammu and Kashmir recorded 21.92 lakh loan accounts with a sanctioned amount of ₹0.49 lakh crore (₹4,900 crore) by June 2025.
These loans are aimed at supporting small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures without the need for collateral. Similarly, under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, launched in 2023 to support traditional artisans and craftspeople, 13,366 beneficiaries in the Union Territory were sanctioned loans worth ₹123.65 crore.
In urban areas, the Self Employment Programme (SEP) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) disbursed ₹286.32 crore to 16,383 beneficiaries in Jammu and Kashmir up to September 2024. These funds supported individuals in setting up or expanding micro-enterprises suited to their skills and local demand.
