PIB-Press Information Bureau

• What are the challenges in the Energy sector?
• Overall energy: A variety of subsidies  and taxes distort the energy market and promote the use of inefficient/over efficient fuels and also make Indian exports and domestic production uncompetitive as energy taxes are not under GST, and hence, no input credit is given.
• Power: The high  industrial/commercial tariff and the cross subsidy regime have affected the competitiveness of the industrial and commercial sectors.
• Oil and Gas: Lack of market driven  gas prices for old fields disincentivises further production. Also, the gas pipeline infrastructure is not adequate.
• Coal: There is a tendency to expand  open-cast mining and discourage underground operation even for better quality coal reserves.
• Renewable Energy: High energy costs   result in reneging on old Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and erode their sanctity. This leads to uncertainty regarding power off-take and consequently endangers further investments.

• What are the steps taken by GOI to  impart skills in the country?
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas   Yojana (PMKVY): It is one of the  flagship schemes of the Ministry  aimed at providing free-of-cost skill  training to over 1 Crore youth in 4  years in 221+ job roles; offering short  term training between 2 months to 6  months.
• Pradhan MantriKaushal Kendra   (PMKK): It is an initiative towards  creation of “Model Training  Centers”with standardized  infrastructure for delivery of skill  development training to be opened in  every district of India; aiming to make  benchmark institutions that can  demonstrate aspirational value for  competency based skill development amongst key stakeholders- industry  and trainees.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion  Scheme (NAPS): The scheme is aimed to increase the involvement of  industries and employers in engaging  youth as apprentices and providing  on-the-job skill training to create a  ready workforce. The government  reimburses part of stipend paid by the employer.

  News paper Analysis