Unemployment rate in India is at its lowest level in 6 years - Narendra Modi

PM Modi while addressing  the students live at the second ‘Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh’ – Annual Skill Convocation Ceremony today said that employment creation in India has reached a new height and the unemployment rate in India is at its lowest level in 6 years according to a recent survey.

Noting that unemployment is decreasing rapidly in both rural and urban areas of India, the Prime Minister emphasized that the benefits of development are reaching both villages and cities equally, and as a result, new opportunities are increasing equally in both villages and cities.

He also pointed out the unprecedented increase in the participation of women in India's workforce and credited the impact of the schemes and campaigns that have been launched in India in the past years regarding women empowerment.

Highlighting the importance of skilling, upskilling and re-skilling, the Prime Minister noted the rapidly changing demands and nature of jobs and emphasized upgrading the skills accordingly. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, it is very important for industry, research and skill development institutions to be in tune with the present times.

 Noting the improved focus on skills, the Prime Minister informed that about 5 thousand new ITIs have been set up in the country in the last 9 years adding more than 4 lakh new ITI seats. He also mentioned that institutes are being upgraded as model ITIs with the objective of providing efficient and high-quality training along with best practices.

Highlighting the recent figures released by the International Monetary Fund, the Prime Minister informed that India will remain the fastest-growing major economy in the coming years. He also recalled his resolve to take India among the top three economies of the world and said that IMF is also confident of India becoming the top three economies of the world in the next 3-4 years. He underlined that it would create new opportunities for employment and self-employment in the country.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,  Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & Information Technology,  Rajeev Chandrasekhar, graced the event. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, K Sanjay Murthy; Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy,  Sanjay Kumar; Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,  Atul Kumar Tiwari; Chairman, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Shri Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi; Chairman, AICTE, Prof. T. G. Sitharam; Chairman, UGC, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar; other officials, dignitaries and students were  present on the occasion .