Skill development is important because it enhances productivity at the individual, industry and national levels. In India, skill formation is broadly ensured through general education—considered as a provider of generic skills. Other than general education, skill formation efforts consist of vocational education and training and sector-specific programmes for better employability in industry. National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 aims to bring the world of education and training closer to the world of work to build a strong India. It provides clarity and coherence on how skill development efforts across the country can be aligned within the existing institutional arrangements. The Policy links skill development to improved employability and productivity. India had declared 2010-20 as the Decade of Innovation. The Government has stressed the need to enunciate a policy to synergize science, technology and innovation and has also established the National Innovation Council (NInC). Entrepreneurship is the quality of being an entrepreneur, i.e. one who undertakes an enterprise. The term puts emphasis on the risk and effort taken by individuals who own and manage a business. This book provides a comprehensive account of policies and programmes for skill development, innovations and entrepreneurship in India. It is spread over 16 chapters which have been organized into 3 theme parts. Part I (chapters 1 to 8) is devoted to policies and programmes for skill development in India. Part II (chapters 9 to 13) covers promotion of science, technology and innovations. Part III (chapters 14 to 16) deals with entrepreneurship development. CONTENTS Part I: Skill Development Policy and Initiatives 1. Skill Development: An Introduction 1.1 Meaning and Importance of Skill Development 1.2 Requirements of a Sound Skills Building Strategy 1.3 Right Start for Children 1.4 Ensuring that All Students Learn 2. Job-relevant Skills 2.1 What are Job-relevant Skills? 2.2 Pre-employment Skills Development 2.3 On-the-Job Training (OJT) 2.4 Skills Certification Systems 2.5 Matching Supply of Skills with Demand 2.6 Globalisation and Skill Development 3. Stakeholders and Initial Efforts for Skill Development in India 3.1 Objectives of Skill Development 3.2 Role and Responsibilities of Stakeholders 3.3 System of Skill Development in India 3.4 Skill Development Initiative (SDI), 2007 3.5 Co-ordinated Action on Skill Development 3.6 National Policy on Skill Development (NPSD), 2009 3.7 Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17) on Skill Development 4. Special Target Groups for Skill Development 4.1 Skill Development for Unorganized Sector Workers 4.2 Skill Development for Marginalized and Vulnerable Groups 4.3 Skill Development for Women Workers 5. National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (NPSDE), 2015 5.1 Vision and Mission 5.2 Objectives of NPSDE, 2015 5.3 Policy Framework for Skill Development: Eleven-point Strategy 5.4 Policy Framework for Entrepreneurship: Nine-point Strategy 5.5 Governance Structure and Financing 5.6 Monitoring and Evaluation 6. National Skill Development Mission (NSDM), 2015 and Initiatives 6.1 Why are Skills and Knowledge Important for India? 6.2 Launching of Skill India Mission 6.3 Objectives of NSDM 6.4 Institutional Mechanisms 6.5 NSDM Strategy 6.6 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 6.7 Udaan 6.8 Skill Loan Scheme 6.9 National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 6.10 Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 7. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) 7.1 Functions of MSDE 7.2 National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) 7.3 National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) 7.4 National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) 7.5 MoU between MSDE and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW) on Skill Development 7.6 MoU between MSDE and Ministry of Steel and Mines (MSM) on Skill Development 7.7 Other Ministries Related to Skill Development 8. Areas of Concern and Future Challenges 8.1 Technology Upgradation and Support 8.2 Labour Market Information System (LMIS) 8.3 Quality and Relevance of Skill Development 8.4 Skill Development and Demographic Dividend Hypothesis 8.5 Future Challenges Part II: Science, Technology and Innovations 9. Science and Technology in India 9.1 Pre-Independence Period 9.2 Importance of Science and Technology 9.3 Technology Upgradation 9.4 Applications of Technological Advancement 9.5 Utilisation of Scientific Research 9.6 Challenges for the Future 10. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy, 2013 10.1 Objectives of STI Policy, 2013 10.2 Main Features of STI Policy, 2013 11. Innovations: Conceptual Settings 11.1 Innovation Defined 11.2 Importance of Innovations 11.3 Skills Required for Innovations 11.4 Innovations Need Incentives 12. Strategies and Initiatives to Promote Innovations in India 12.1 Role of Innovations 12.2 Obstacles in Innovations 12.3 Strategies to Promote Innovations 12.4 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 12.5 National Innovation Foundation (NIF) 12.6 National Innovation Council (NInC) 12.7 India Inclusive Innovation Fund (IIIF) 13. Innovation Indexes and India 13.1 Global Innovation Index (GII) 13.2 Bloomberg Innovation Index, 2019 13.3 NITI Aayog, India Innovation Index, 2019 Part III: Entrepreneurship Development 14. Entrepreneurship in India during British Rule 14.1 Early History of Entrepreneurial Class in India 14.2 Role of Ethnic Minorities 14.3 Non-trading Communities as Entrepreneurs 14.4 Factors Responsible for Poor Entrepreneurial Initiatives 15. Importance and Obstacles to Entrepreneurship Development 15.1 Who is an Entrepreneur? 15.2 What is Entrepreneurship? 15.3 Role and Importance of Entrepreneurs 15.4 Obstacles to Entrepreneurship in India 16. Entrepreneurship Development Institutes and Schemes in India 16.1 National Level Entrepreneurship Development Institutes in India 16.2 Development and Training Institutes for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) 16.3 Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana (RGUMY) 16.4 Other Schemes for Entrepreneurship Development Bibliography Index