This study examines the impact of skill development programs on employability and workforce productivity in India using recent national data, programme evaluations, and labour market assessments. Amid rapid digital transformation, demographic expansion, and changing industry requirements, skill development has become a central policy instrument for improving employment outcomes and economic efficiency. India’s national employability has shown measurable improvement with the India Skills Report-2025 reporting an employability rate of 54.81%, reflecting advances in digital literacy, industry-aligned competencies, and sector-specific up-skilling initiatives. Government-led interventions such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), including its successive phases, along with the Skill India Mission and state-level programmes, have trained millions of youths across formal and informal sectors. Evaluation reports indicate that earlier PMKVY phases recorded placement rates in the range of 40-45%, while recent programme reforms emphasizing on-the-job training, apprenticeship models, and employer participation have contributed to improved employment and retention outcomes. Despite these gains, workforce productivity improvements remain uneven, as employment growth has been concentrated in relatively low-productivity sectors, and skill mismatches persist in high-growth industries. The study adopts a secondary data based analytical approach, drawing on national skill surveys, employability assessments, and programme evaluation reports to examine the relationship between skill training, employment probability, and short-term productivity indicators. Findings suggest that vocational programmes integrating technical skills, digital competencies, and soft-skills training yield stronger employability and workplace performance outcomes. However, regional disparities, gender gaps, limited industry linkage, and weak outcome tracking continue to constrain long-term productivity gains. The study concludes that skill development programmes have positively influenced employability in India, but sustained improvements in workforce productivity require deeper industry integration, continuous curriculum revision, and targeted inclusion of women and rural youth.