Madhya Pradesh: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued a factual clarification rejecting allegations that the Madhya Pradesh Council for Employment and Training (MAPCET) disbursed crores of rupees to training institutions based on unverified placement data. Responding to a news report published in The Central Chronicle (Bhopal) on October 31, 2026, the Ministry described the allegations as entirely incorrect and baseless.
In its official statement, the Ministry explained the funding process, training activities, assessment requirements and payment conditions followed under the skill development programme for Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries during the financial year 2021–22. It specifically clarified that the third instalment, which is linked to verified employment outcomes, has not been released to any training provider organisation.
The clarification also provides details of the funds sanctioned and transferred to MAPCET, the number of institutions involved in the programme and the conditions that must be fulfilled before placement-linked payments can be processed.
Ministry Clarifies ₹32.41 Crore Sanction for SC Skill Development Training
According to the factual report, the Office of the Commissioner, Scheduled Caste Development Department, sanctioned ₹3,241.37 lakh for skill development training under the Special Central Assistance for Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan.
Out of the sanctioned amount, ₹2,945.37 lakh was made available to the Madhya Pradesh Employment and Training Council (MAPCET) during 2021–22.
The amount was released through two separate government orders:
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₹1,296 lakh: Released through Order No. 4695 dated November 26, 2021.
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₹1,649.37 lakh: Released through Order No. 10283 dated March 25, 2022.
The distinction between the sanctioned amount and the amount actually made available to MAPCET is relevant to understanding the financial details of the programme. The Ministry’s clarification identifies ₹2,945.37 lakh as the amount transferred to the Council during the stated period.
MAPCET Engaged 34 Training Providers; 4,952 Candidates Received Training
The Madhya Pradesh Council for Employment and Training invited requests for proposals (RFPs) for skill development training during 2021–22. The programme was intended for beneficiaries from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families belonging to the Scheduled Caste category.
Following the selection process, MAPCET entered into agreements with 34 training provider organisations and issued work orders for conducting the training programmes.
However, six organisations did not commence their assigned work. The remaining 28 institutions conducted training programmes for a total of 4,952 trainees.
The Ministry stated that the training activities followed standards prescribed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India.
It also explained that the Council used a dedicated online portal to manage programme-related information. The portal facilitates trainee registration, daily attendance monitoring and the uploading of assessment and placement details.
This digital system forms part of the process for maintaining training records and processing payments according to the prescribed milestones.
MSDE Rules Define Three Instalments for Training Provider Payments
A central part of the Ministry’s clarification concerns the payment structure applicable to training providers.
Under Clause 2.1.1 of Schedule IV of the MSDE Gazette notification No. 349, dated December 4, 2020, payments for batch-mode training programmes are divided into three instalments.
The payment structure is linked to specific milestones rather than being released entirely at the beginning of a training programme.
| Instalment | Payment Percentage | Required Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| First instalment | 30% | Commencement of training after physical verification of trainees |
| Second instalment | 40% | Successful completion of certification, based on the number of candidates certified |
| Third instalment | 30% | Achievement of 70% verified employment, including continuous employment for three months |
Under these provisions, the first payment supports the commencement of training, while the second is linked to successful training completion and certification. The final instalment requires institutions to meet the prescribed employment and verification conditions.
Why MAPCET Has Not Released the Third Instalment
Addressing the main allegation, the Ministry clarified that only the first and second instalments have been paid to the training provider organisations.
The first instalment is released after a training batch begins and the trainees undergo physical verification. The second instalment follows the completion of training and assessment.
The assessment process is conducted by entities designated by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). Candidates must have attended at least 70% of the training to become eligible for assessment.
According to the Ministry, payments under these two stages were made in accordance with the applicable MSDE guidelines and contractual conditions.
The third instalment operates under a separate requirement. Training providers must upload placement information to the designated portal in accordance with the prescribed criteria. The payment claim can be generated only after the required placement details have been submitted through the portal.
The Ministry clarified that hard-copy placement information submitted by training institutions, which may be based on job offers or offer letters, does not independently qualify them for the third instalment.
Since no third-instalment payment claims were generated for any of the participating institutions, no placement-linked third-instalment payments have been made.
Ministry Says Placement Verification Is Mandatory for Final Payments
The Ministry further explained that receiving a job offer or offer letter is not sufficient to establish eligibility for the final payment. Training providers must fulfil the prescribed employment conditions, including achieving 70% verified employment and ensuring continuous employment for at least three months.
The placement information must also undergo desk verification and placement verification according to the applicable norms. This requirement separates the documentation of job offers from the verification of actual employment outcomes. The Ministry stated that the third instalment would be considered only when the required conditions are fulfilled and the relevant payment claim is generated through the portal.
It also clarified that the third instalment would be paid when candidates take up employment after completing their training. MAPCET is currently facilitating placement opportunities for the trained candidates.
What the Ministry’s Clarification Means for the MAPCET Payment Controversy
The Ministry’s factual report establishes two key points regarding the allegations published in The Central Chronicle. First, the institutions received payments only under the first and second instalments, which are connected to training commencement and certification rather than placement outcomes.
Second, the third instalment, which specifically requires verified employment, has not been paid to any training provider organisation. Consequently, the Ministry maintains that the allegation of MAPCET releasing placement-linked payments without verifying employment data does not reflect the actual payment process followed under the programme.
