The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), in convergence with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), launched ‘NAVYA’ (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls) on June 24, 2025. Aim The NAVYA programme aims to equip adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 years with vocational training mainly in non-traditional and emerging job roles. Programme overview Girls identified by MWCD will be trained through short-term skill development courses under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), with the potential to eventually establish small businesses of their own. In its pilot phase, NAVYA is being rolled out across 27 Northeastern and Aspirational districts in 19 states. Each participating district has designated training centres offering job-role-specific vocational courses tailored to the needs of adolescent girls. A specially designed 7-hour supplementary training module will also be provided under Navya, focusing on four key areas: Interpersonal Skills – Hygiene, self-presentation, conflict management Communication Skills – Active listening and effective communication Workplace Safety – Knowledge of POSH and POCSO laws Financial Literacy – Budgeting, earnings, and basic financial concepts Under the NAVYA programme, adolescent girls are being trained in skills such as graphic design, telecom and financial services, smartphone and drone assembly, solar PV and CCTV Installation, and hand embroidery - empowering them for emerging opportunities in a rapidly evolving job market. Training under NAVYA will be implemented using existing resources from flagship schemes of MSDE like PMKVY and PM Vishwakarma Yojana. Source : PIB