Work and skills
Free training, paid apprenticeships, internships and small loans. Every listing links to the official site. Never pay anyone for a job or a training seat.
19 options
- Apply any timeJob siteOnly for women
HerKey (formerly JobsForHer)
HerKey
Jobs only for women, including return-to-work programmes after a career break, with mentoring.
- Who can join
- Graduates, including women returning after a break
- Pay or cost
- Free to join
- Apply any timeTrainingOnly for women
Pratham Second Chance (finish Class 10)
Pratham
A 4-month foundation course, then help preparing for the Class 10 board exam. More than 17,000 women enrolled in 2025.
- Who can join
- Girls and women who left school before Class 10
- Pay or cost
- Free
- Apply any timeWomen's groupOnly for women
Lakhpati Didi (self-help groups)
Ministry of Rural Development
Helps women in self-help groups earn ₹1 lakh or more a year. The target was raised from 3 crore to 6 crore women.
- Who can join
- Member of a women's self-help group
- Pay or cost
- Training, credit and market links
- Apply any timeWomen's groupOnly for women
Join a women's self-help group (DAY-NRLM)
Ministry of Rural Development
Save together, borrow at low interest and get help starting a livelihood.
- Who can join
- Women in villages
- Pay or cost
- Savings, cheap credit and bank links
- Apply any timeApprenticeship
Paid apprenticeships (NAPS)
Ministry of Skill Development
Learn on the job at a company and get paid while you learn. About 2 lakh women were apprentices last year.
- Who can join
- Depends on the trade. Many need Class 10 or an ITI.
- Pay or cost
- Monthly stipend, part paid by the government
- Apply any timeApprenticeship
Graduate apprenticeships (NATS 2.0)
Ministry of Education
6 to 12 month paid apprenticeships for graduates and diploma holders. You need eKYC and an APAAR ID to register.
- Who can join
- Graduate or diploma holder
- Pay or cost
- Monthly stipend by DBT
- Apply any timeJob site
National Career Service
Ministry of Labour
Free government job portal with private and government jobs, job fairs and career counselling. Helpline 1800-425-1514.
- Who can join
- Any
- Pay or cost
- Free
- Apply any timeJob site
Apna local jobs app
Apna
Local jobs in tele-calling, retail, back office and beauty, with a Hindi interface. Good if you left school.
- Who can join
- Many jobs need Class 10 or 12
- Pay or cost
- Free to join. Never pay a fee for a job.
- Apply any timeTraining
Anudip Foundation digital and AI jobs training
Anudip Foundation
Computer, coding and AI training with placement. More than half the learners are women, with centres in Muslim areas such as Metiabruz, Kolkata.
- Who can join
- Class 12 for most courses
- Pay or cost
- Free, with job placement
- Apply any timeTraining
Tech Mahindra SMART Academies
Tech Mahindra Foundation
Job training in healthcare, digital skills and logistics. More than half the learners are women.
- Who can join
- Class 12 or graduate, depending on the course
- Pay or cost
- Free, with placement
- Apply any timeLoan
Mudra Shishu loan for a small business
Any bank or microfinance institution
A small loan to start or grow a tiny business. It must be repaid.
- Who can join
- A business plan: tailoring, tiffin service, beauty parlour, small shop
- Pay or cost
- Loan up to ₹50,000 without collateral
- Apply any timeLoan
NMDFC self-employment loan (minorities)
National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation
Low-interest loans for self-employment, now open to apply online on the MILAN portal or through your state minority finance corporation.
- Who can join
- Minority community member with a small business idea
- Pay or cost
- Low-interest loan, with a lower rate for women
- Apply any timeLoan
NMDFC Virasat loan for artisans
National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation
Money for tools and material if you work in a traditional craft.
- Who can join
- Minority artisan: embroidery, zari, chikankari, weaving and similar crafts
- Pay or cost
- Loan for tools and raw material, with an interest concession
- Apply any timeTraining
Google Career Certificates with financial aid
Google via Coursera
Online courses in IT support, data analytics, UX design and project management. Apply for Coursera financial aid.
- Who can join
- Basic English and internet access
- Pay or cost
- Free with financial aid or a scholarship
- Check before applyingTraining
Jan Shikshan Sansthan (training near home)
Ministry of Skill Development
Free, flexible training close to home: tailoring, embroidery, beauty, food processing and computers.
- Who can join
- None. Most seats go to women with little or no schooling.
- Pay or cost
- Free
- Check before applyingTraining
DDU-GKY 2.0 rural job training
Ministry of Rural Development
New batches start in October 2026 in 14 states. Courses run 3 to 12 months and end with a job placement.
Reported by PIB. The exact start date for each state is not yet published.
- Who can join
- Rural youth aged 15 to 35, from poor families
- Pay or cost
- Free training with placement
- Check before applyingTraining
PMKVY 4.0 short-term training
Ministry of Skill Development
Free short courses in hundreds of job roles, found through Skill India Digital.
It is not confirmed whether PMKVY continues after March 2026. Check Skill India Digital for open batches.
- Who can join
- Depends on the course
- Pay or cost
- Free
- Not announced yetTrainingOnly for women
Women's National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI)
Directorate General of Training
19 women-only government ITIs with 1 to 2 year trades: fashion design, computer embroidery, cosmetology, front office, AI and drones.
- Who can join
- Class 10 for most trades
- Pay or cost
- Low or no fees at government institutes
- Not announced yetInternship
PM Internship Scheme
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Internships at large companies across India. The scheme was revised in March 2026.
Check the portal for the current round. The family income limit after the 2026 revision is not confirmed.
- Who can join
- Age 18 to 25. Class 10 pass or above, not in full-time study (final-year students can apply with an NOC).
- Pay or cost
- ₹9,000 a month for 6 to 9 months