Skill Development — Policy Reforms

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
42nd Constitutional Amendment Act	1976	Inserted Article 43A into the Directive Principles of State Policy, mandating the State to take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organisations engaged in any industry.	While not directly about skill development, it underscores the importance of an empowered and capable workforce, implicitly requiring skill enhancement for meaningful participation and contribution to industrial progress and worker welfare.
Apprentices (Amendment) Act	2014	Significantly liberalized the Apprentices Act, 1961, by expanding the scope of apprenticeships to include 'optional trades', simplifying compliance, and introducing a stipend reimbursement mechanism for employers.	This amendment aimed to make apprenticeships more attractive to both industry and youth, leading to a substantial increase in the number of apprentices engaged and fostering greater industry participation in skill development. It broadened the types of skills that could be formally acquired through apprenticeships.