<span style="color: #222222;">Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dr. Rajiv Chandrashekhar informed that to meet the Covid-19 posed challenges the Government is designing special skill development and training prorgrammes. Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha he said, that Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the skill development and entrepreneurship programmes in the country.<br />''<br />''He said in association with Director General of Training (DGT) the ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has also developed blended and hybrid digital vocational education and training courses to augment the learning of ITI students across the country.<br />''<br />''He said 3.44 crore youths have been trained and skilled so far since the launch of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) in 2015.<br />''<br />''The minister also informed that the ministry is expanding skill development and technical education especially to SC, ST, OBC communities and women</span><br />