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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, chaired by elder Congress person K.C. Venugopal, connected Friday (February 20, 2026) criticised the authorities for what members described arsenic “lackadaisical” implementation of the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) scheme, a flagship programme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
The sheet was examining a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) study that highlighted important delays and shortfalls successful some fiscal and carnal advancement nether the scheme. According to the CAG, lone 44% of the budgeted proviso for SANKALP was disbursed betwixt 2017‑18 and 2023‑24 (as of October 2023), reflecting persistent underutilisation of funds. The audit besides flagged anemic adherence to implementation guidelines and a sluggish gait of execution crossed components.
Approved by the Cabinet Committee connected Economic Affairs successful October 2017 with a full outlay of ₹4,455 crore, SANKALP was designed to fortify short‑term accomplishment grooming done amended organization frameworks, enhanced manufacture linkages, and targeted inclusion of marginalised communities. The strategy was slated to beryllium financed done a World Bank indebtedness of ₹3,300 crore, State leverage of ₹660 crore, and manufacture leverage of ₹495 crore.
Launched successful January 2018, SANKALP was primitively scheduled for completion by March 2023 but was aboriginal extended to March 2024. Against the archetypal tranche of the agreed World Bank indebtedness of $250 million, the instauration disbursed ₹1,606.15 crore (86%), but the Ministry utilised lone ₹850.71 crore arsenic of December 2023.
The CAG attributed portion of the hold to “non‑preparedness” wrong the Ministry earlier the commencement of the indebtedness period. PAC members echoed this appraisal during Friday’s meeting, questioning the authorities implicit the lack of a cardinal monitoring mechanics and gaps successful owed diligence.
Several MPs besides noted the nonaccomplishment to contiguous a wide program for integrating skilling into the schoolhouse program from superior to higher secondary levels contempt this being a cardinal anticipation linked to improving long‑term employability outcomes.
