Utkarsh Bangla Scheme – উৎকর্ষ বাংলা প্রকল্প

Utkarsh Bangla (উৎকর্ষ বাংলা) is the flagship skill development scheme of the West Bengal government, launched on 16th February 2016 by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Implemented by PBSSD (Paschim Banga Society for Skill Development) under the Department of Technical Education, Training & Skill Development, the scheme provides free placement-linked vocational training to unemployed youth, school dropouts and job seekers across all districts of West Bengal. The scheme has trained over 6 lakh youth annually and has won the prestigious UN WSIS Award for Capacity Building — topping 1,062 global nominations.

• Completely free skill training — no fees, no registration charges, no exam or certification charges
• Training duration ranges from 100 to 1,500 hours depending on the course selected
• Government-recognized certificate issued by West Bengal Council of Technical & Vocational Education upon successful completion
• Campus placement support — partner companies include Samsung, Raymond, Berger Paints, Maruti Suzuki, CREDAI and more
• Daily allowance provided to trainees during the training period
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) — experienced candidates can get their existing skills certified without full training
• Kanyashree beneficiaries get priority admission under Swapno Bhor Prakalpa linked to Utkarsh Bangla
• Curriculum aligned with National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and industry standards

Utkarsh Bangla covers 200+ job roles across 20+ industry sectors. Some popular courses include:

• Permanent resident of West Bengal
• Unemployed youth, school dropouts or underemployed individuals seeking skill upgradation
• Minimum age: 18 years (varies by course)
• No specific educational qualification required for most courses — open to school dropouts
• Kanyashree (K2) beneficiaries above 18 years get priority admission