Name: Parameshwari G & Shankara S L
Country: India

Year: 2025
Volume: Volume No: 12, Issue No: 2, Year: 2025 (Special Issue)
Page Number: 83-93
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17866993

ABSTRACT
India’s youth population represents a critical demographic advantage, yet the gap between
education and employability remains a significant challenge. The Government of India, under
the Skill India Mission (2015), has launched multiple initiatives such as PMKVY, DDUGKY, NAPS, and Kaushalya Karnataka to equip youth with market-relevant skills. Despite
the availability of these programmes, their effectiveness is contingent upon the awareness and
active involvement of the target beneficiaries. This study examines the level of awareness and
involvement of youth in Mysore district, Karnataka, regarding government skill development
initiatives and evaluates the influence of demographic factors such as gender, educational
qualification, employment status, and geographical location on awareness levels. Using a
descriptive research design, data were collected from 190 youth aged 15–29 through a
structured questionnaire measuring demographic characteristics, awareness, and involvement
in various skill programmes. Reliability of the awareness scale was confirmed via Cronbach’s
Alpha. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics, OneSample t-tests, Levene’s Test, and one-way ANOVA to test the hypotheses. The findings
reveal that youth in Mysore district demonstrate a high level of awareness of government
skill development initiatives, with a mean score of 4.14 on a 5-point Likert scale. Analysis
across demographic factors shows no statistically significant differences in awareness based
on educational qualification, employment status, or location, indicating effective outreach
and equitable access to information. Rural respondents exhibited slightly higher awareness
than urban counterparts, although the difference was not significant. These results suggest
that government communication strategies, training centres, digital platforms, and
institutional interventions are largely effective in disseminating information. The study
highlights the importance of translating awareness into active participation by addressing
barriers such as financial constraints, digital literacy, and perceptions of vocational training.
Strengthening youth engagement in skill development initiatives is crucial to enhancing
employability, promoting economic growth, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Keywords: Skill India Mission, Youth Awareness, Government Skill Development
Initiatives, Employability, Mysore District, PMKVY, Kaushalya Karnataka