How to File RTI with NSDC or Ministry for PMKVY Skill India — Training Certificate, Fraud and Fund Utilisation

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is India's flagship skill development scheme, providing free short-term vocational training and certification to youth across the country. Implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE), PMKVY has enrolled millions of trainees through a network of empanelled training partners and Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) since its launch in 2015. Currently in its fourth iteration (PMKVY 4.0), the scheme faces persistent challenges of training fraud, fake batches, non-issuance of certificates, and diversion of government funds by unscrupulous training partners.

NSDC is a Public-Private Partnership body that receives substantial funding from the Government of India through the National Skill Development Fund. Despite being structured as a not-for-profit company, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has confirmed that NSDC qualifies as a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, given its public funding and the governmental functions it carries out. Citizens, trainees, journalists, and civil society organisations can file RTI applications with NSDC's CPIO to obtain information on training provider accreditation, batch-level records, fund disbursement, and complaint action — information that is essential to holding the scheme accountable.

PMKVY Scheme at a Glance

NSDC vs. Ministry of Skill Development: Which to RTI for Which Query

RTI Use Cases: Exposing Training Fraud and Certificate Issues

PMKVY training fraud typically takes one of three forms: ghost batches (no actual training conducted; candidates enrolled on paper only), fake assessments (assessment conducted as a formality with inflated pass rates), and certificate hoarding (certificates generated but withheld by the TP to extract payment from trainees). RTI is the most effective tool available to a citizen or journalist to expose these because NSDC maintains digital records on the SMART portal for every batch.

To expose a ghost batch, ask:

1. The complete list of candidates enrolled in Batch ID Batch ID on the SMART portal — names, Aadhaar numbers (masked), and enrollment dates
2. Date-wise attendance records uploaded by the training partner for each candidate in this batch
3. Whether biometric attendance or CCTV footage was submitted by the TP for this batch — and if so, provide the records
4. The name and designation of the NSDC field monitor / inspector who visited this training centre, the date of the last inspection, and a copy of the inspection report
5. The Sector Skill Council assessor's name/ID, the date the assessment was conducted, whether it was in-person or e-Assessment, and the individual candidate scores
6. Whether NSDC disbursed payment to the training partner for this batch, and if so, the date and amount — and whether payment was made before or after assessment results were uploaded

A pattern of low day-wise attendance alongside a near-100% assessment pass rate, combined with pre-assessment disbursement, is a strong indicator of a fraudulent batch.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For

1. Training Partner Empanelment Status

• Whether TP Name with NSDC Code Code is currently empanelled on the SMART portal
• The list of job roles / Qualification Packs for which the TP is empanelled
• The accreditation status of the training centre located at full address — active, suspended, or blacklisted
• Whether there are any debarment or blacklisting orders against this TP

2. Batch-Level Data

• Candidate enrollment list for Batch ID Batch ID
• Date-wise attendance data uploaded by the TP
• Assessment date, assessor name/ID, and individual assessment scores
• Certificate generation status — number of certificates issued for the batch

3. Fund Disbursement

• Training cost per candidate per job role under PMKVY 4.0 for Job Role / Sector
• Amount claimed by TP Name for Batch ID
• Amount sanctioned and disbursed, and the date of disbursement
• Whether the disbursement was contingent on placement outcomes, and if so, the placement data submitted by the TP

4. Complaints and Action Taken

• Number of complaints received by NSDC against TP Name / Code from Year to Year
• Nature of complaints and the outcome of each complaint
• Whether any show-cause notice, suspension, or blacklisting order was issued against this TP

5. Scheme Guidelines

• A copy of the applicable PMKVY 4.0 scheme guidelines / SOP for training partners
• The official training cost (₹ per trainee) for specific job role / QP
• The post-placement tracking requirements and the penalty for non-compliance

6. Certificate Verification

• Whether a PMKVY certificate with Certificate Number No. was issued by NSDC / the Sector Skill Council
• The name of the candidate, training centre, job role, and batch ID corresponding to this certificate number
• The process followed to verify certificate authenticity on the SMART portal / Digilocker

Where to File

PMKVY and NSDC fall under the Central Government. RTI applications should be filed online at rtionline.gov.in:

1. Go to rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
2. Select Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship from the Ministry/Department dropdown
3. Select National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) as the public authority (or select the Ministry directly for policy/guideline queries)
4. Draft your application — include the training partner name, NSDC TP code (if known), Batch ID, job role, and any certificate numbers you are asking about. Be specific; vague questions invite vague responses
5. Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt — upload a copy of the BPL card
6. Submit and save your registration number for tracking

Tip: If you are unsure whether NSDC or the Ministry holds the specific record you want, file with NSDC first. If NSDC transfers your application to another public authority under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, the 30-day clock continues from the date the other authority receives the transfer.

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If NSDC's CPIO does not respond within 30 days, or if the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at NSDC. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Similarly, for queries addressed to the Ministry, the FAA at the Ministry handles first appeals.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is also absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. NSDC is under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, a Central Government body — the second appeal always goes to the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC can impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act where information is denied without reasonable cause, and can recommend disciplinary action for malicious or vexatious denials.