2023 Year Ender Review: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Directorate General of Training

Re-energizing and re-imagining the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs): Having a strong equity in skill training since pre-independence era

●          In 2014, 10119 institutes were established and since then 4621 have been added, taking the total number to 14953 in 2022. This is an increment of 47.77%.

●          Over 25 lakh seats for sessions 2021-2023 have been made available. Over 5 lakh seats added since 2014. Total seating capacity went up by 25%.

●          17175 seating capacity of trainers created till date. 5710 seats added since 2014. Total capacity went up by 49.8%.

●          223 courses introduced till date (150-CTS, 55-CITS, 14- STT and 04 Advanced Diploma). 61 courses added since 2014.

●          National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) were opened in 2015 with 3 Extension Centers. There are 33 NSTIs (19 are exclusively for Women) and 3 Extension Centers are working now.

●          MoUs under the Flexi MoU Scheme have been signed under the revised scheme guidelines released in March 2019. As of 30th November 2022, 13 MoUs have been signed under the Flexi MoU Scheme.

●          DGT signed MoUs with the Army, Navy and Airforce on 26 December 2022 under the Flexi-MoU Scheme of the DGT for the skill certification of Agniveer by recognizing the skill acquired by Agniveer during their training and service. Agniveers, post their exit from the armed forces, will be provided with skill certificates based on their qualification and experiential learning during their service; ensuring these Agniveers will have the opportunities of employment in industries after service of 4 years. Agniveer service will consist of the following modules:

1. Basic Military Training
2. Trade Training
3. Security Training
4. Service/OJT

●          An MoU has been signed between the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) under the Ministry of Education and the Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on development of linkages between school education and vocation education/skilling. This MoU opens the pathway for National Trade Certificate (NTC) holders or those undergoing training under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) in NSQF-compliant trades of one-year or two-year duration, to obtain secondary and senior secondary certificates for 8th and 10th pass, respectively by NIOS. In addition, provision is also made for the ITI pass-out in one-year trade and further undergoing training in one-year trade under the Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS), or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) holder in the same duration of course to obtain secondary/senior secondary certificate for 8th and 10th pass respectively by NIOS.

●          An MoU has been signed between DGT and NIESBUD for a 5-day online Training of Trainers Programme on “Employability, Entrepreneurship & Life Skills for instructors of ITIs (Govt. & Private) organized by DGT for the instructors of ITIs (Govt. & Private). This training is designed for the sustained development of entrepreneurial skills and education aimed at the enhancement of self-employment opportunities for trainees of ITIs on a pan-India basis.

New Age Courses: Presently, vocational training is being offered in 152 NSQF-compliant trades under the Craftsmen Training Scheme with the objective to provide a skilled workforce to the industries.

●          21 NSTIs have been registered as NIESBUD centres for entrepreneurship courses and 33 NSTIs (and 2 extension centres) as NIOS and IGNOU centres for certifications in higher education and degree certification courses.

●          To increase women's participation in vocational skilling, fee relaxation for tuition and exams for women candidates under CITS/ CTS has been approved for session 2023-24 onwards.

●          STT under PMKVY Skill Hub Initiative: Training Centre and Training Provider IDs for all 33 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and 2 Extension Centers have been created to run National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) level 5, 6 and 7 courses under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Skill Hub Initiative (SHI) which act as upskilling/re-skilling courses for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) pass students and for trainers. Around 700 candidates have enrolled and 78 trainees were onboard for training.

● DGT has allowed ITIs to run drone-related courses in ITIs in session 2022 for 116 ITIs and 32 ITIs in session 2023.

● DGT conducted the 2nd Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh (Skill Convocation Ceremony) for more than 14000 ITIs at the National, State and ITI level on 12th October 2023 for more than 8.5 lakh trainees. The event was virtually addressed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and was chaired by Union Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.

● Signing of DGT MoUs with the following IT Industries for training in New Technologies like Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, etc.

• Microsoft India
• Wadhwani Foundation
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• ETS India

● In 2014, 10119 institutes were established and since then 4897 have been added, taking the total number to 15016 in 2023. This is an increment of 48.39%.

● 25+ lakh seats for sessions 2021-2023 added. 5+ lakh seats added since 2014. Total seating capacity went up by 25%.

● 17175 seating capacity of trainers made available till date. 5710 seats added since 2014. Total capacity went up by 49.8%.

● 226 courses added till date (153-CTS, 55-CITS, 14- STT and 4 Advanced Diploma). 61 courses added since 2014.

Short-term Training

● Under the Skill India Mission, MSDE launched its flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) on 15 July 2015.

● PMKVY aims to provide avenues for the Indian youth to access short-term skilling opportunities. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) was introduced for people already employed/working and certify the acquired skills by a candidate. The focus of the scheme has been to improve the employability of the candidates across the country by providing quality training in National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)-aligned job roles based on demand from the industries in relevant sectors.

Since 2015, close to 1.40 crore candidates have been trained/oriented under PMKVY as per Skill India Digital till 13th December 2023.

• Under Short-term Training, where placement was incentivised, 42% of the candidates were placed in various sectors across the country. (i.e., 24.39 lakh candidates were placed out of 57.42 lakh candidates certified in STT).

• Immediate support to the healthcare sector during the pandemic through the Customized Crash Course Programme for COVID Warriors under PMKVY 3.0. More than 1.20 Lakh candidates were trained of which 83,000+ candidates got certified under the relevant healthcare sector job roles to support and ease the burden of the doctors and nurses working in the healthcare sector.

• PMKVY 4.0 (FY 2023-26) was announced in the last Union Budget 2023-24 with an aim to skill lakh of youth and provide training in courses on Industry 4.0, AI, robotics, mechatronics, IoT and drones. PMKVY 4.0 has received the approval of EFC and the same has been submitted for the approval of the cabinet. However, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has granted approval for the release of funds under PMKVY 4.0 based on the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) Memorandum with the condition of early approval of the scheme from the Cabinet.

• As of 13th December 2023, a total of 6,62,750 candidates have been enrolled of which 3,42,500 candidates have completed their training.

• The broad design principles of PMKVY 4.0 are:

i. Customized courses with high employability and duration up to 210 hours.

ii. The scheme aims to synergize vocational and educational streams and increase the network of quality training providers by increasing partnerships of educational institutions termed Skill Hubs.

iii. Skill Hubs can be set up in Central and State Government Schools, Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs), Colleges and Universities (including Skill Universities) with requisite infrastructure for providing Short-term Training under PMKVY.

iv. Skill Training is being imparted through Skill India Centres in Educational Institutes, Government Institutions, PMKKs, ITIs, JSSs, IITs, IIMs and others.

v. Focus is given on skilling in Futuristic/New Age job roles pertaining to Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, Drone Technology etc.

vi. Skill courses will be selected as per industry demand, largely mapped in the district Skill Development Plan.

vii. Special Projects for identified areas and groups in agriculture, handicraft and high-end courses.

viii. Skill India Digital to be a single-point enrolment and provide a platform for candidate training life cycle.

PM Vishwakarma Yojana

Uplifting the country’s artisans is a priority for Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Recognizing the crucial role of 'Vishwakarmas,' he launched the Rs 13,000 crore 'PM Vishwakarma Yojana' to enhance their work quality and accessibility. This initiative equips craftspeople with technology, aiming to integrate them into domestic and global value chains while providing comprehensive support for skill enhancement in the modern market.

Through the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, the government intends to facilitate formal training, modernize traditional skills, offer financial assistance, and create avenues for market linkage, enabling these artisans to thrive in a rapidly changing economic landscape while preserving their invaluable crafts for future generations. Ultimately, the scheme endeavours to elevate the status of these artisans, providing them with the tools and opportunities necessary for sustainable livelihoods and growth.

Currently, 18 trades are part of the scheme:

(i) Carpenter (Suthar); (ii) Boat Maker; (iii) Armourer; (iv) Blacksmith (Lohar); (v) Hammer and Tool Kit Maker; (vi) Locksmith; (vii) Goldsmith (Sonar); (viii) Potter (Kumhaar); (ix) Sculptor (Moortikar, stone carver), Stone breaker; (x) Cobbler (Charmkar)/ Shoesmith/ Footwear artisan; (xi) Mason (Rajmistri); (xii) Basket/ Mat/ Broom Maker/ Coir Weaver; (xiii) Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional); (xiv) Barber (Naai); (xv) Garland Maker (Malakaar); (xvi) Washerman (Dhobi); (xvii) Tailor (Darzi); and (xviii) Fishing Net Maker.

Under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, the Vishwakarmas will be given the following benefits:

• Recognition: Artisans will receive a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card, acknowledging their expertise in their respective crafts.
• Toolkit Incentive: Upon a skill assessment, beneficiaries will receive a toolkit incentive of ₹15,000 tailored with modernized tools specific to their trade.
• Skill Enhancement:
  • Basic Training: Vishwakarmas will undergo 5-7 days of basic skill training with a stipend of ₹500/day. This comprehensive training includes exposure to modern tools, digital and financial skills, entrepreneurship, credit support, branding, and marketing techniques.
  • Advanced Training: After the basic training, beneficiaries can pursue advanced skill training for 15 days with a stipend of ₹500/day. This advanced training delves deeper into the latest technologies, design elements, and fosters linkages with industry partners, enabling the transition from self-employment to establishing enterprises.
• Credit Support:
  • • Upon completing basic skill training, artisans become eligible for collateral-free loans up to ₹1 lakh with an 18-month repayment tenure.
    • Skilled beneficiaries maintaining a standard loan account, engaging in digital transactions, or having undergone advanced skill training can access a second tranche of loans up to ₹2 lakh. However, they must repay the initial ₹1 lakh loan before accessing the subsequent ₹2 lakh.
    • Incentive for Digital Transactions: Beneficiaries will receive incentives for digital transactions, with ₹1 per transaction, encouraging up to 100 transactions monthly.
    • Marketing Assistance: Support in quality certification, branding, e-commerce and GeM platform onboarding, advertising, and publicity will be extended to facilitate artisans' reach in the market.

Launch of Skill India Digital

Skill India Digital (SID) is an innovative digital platform centred around Skills and Jobs, leveraging the robust framework of India Stack Global, ensuring top-notch security and scalability. This comprehensive platform offers various key features. Firstly, it facilitates DISCOVERY & RECOMMENDATION through advanced AI/ML technology, aiding users in identifying suitable skill sets. Secondly, it hosts a digital job exchange, connecting job seekers with relevant opportunities seamlessly.

Another pivotal aspect is its provision of digitally verifiable credentials, ensuring the authenticity of skill certifications. Moreover, Skill India Digital promotes convergence by integrating diverse government initiatives such as Skilling Schemes, eShram/EPFO/NCS, Education, Udyam, Aadhar, DigiLocker, GatiShakti, UMANG, AgriStack, PLI Schemes, ODOP, and High Economic Indicators like GSTN, EPFO Trends, Import/Export Trends. This convergence facilitates enhanced access to skilling, credit, and markets.

The platform also introduces a Digital Skill Card for individuals, fostering lifelong learning opportunities that are accessible anytime, anywhere. Emphasizing flexibility, it supports Online/Blended Skilling, AR/VR/XR technologies, Multimedia Learning, and Online Assessments. Additionally, it facilitates the digital discovery of courses and centres (Skills Hubs/ ITIs/ PMKKs etc.) through an interactive map interface, ensuring convenient access to learning resources.

1. Discovery & Recommendations AI/ML (Jobs, Apprenticeship, Skills Courses Skills Centers): Career and Learning Pathways, Rating of Courses / Centres / Trainers
2. Digital Job Exchange (Mapping of Skills with Jobs: International and Domestic Job Aggregation
3. Digitally Verifiable Credentials (Identity, Skills, Education, Work Experience): Aadhar Enabled Facial / Biometric Registration / Attendance / Assessment/ Certification / Authentication
4. Digital Skill Card (Dynamic and Trusted QR code): Portable to SID APP, SID ChatBOT, Email, SMS, DigiLocker, Ready to Issue 01.25CR Cards Digitally
5. Convergence (Whole of Government): All Skilling Schemes, eShram/ EPFO/ NCS, Education, Udyam, Aadhar, DigiLocker, UMANG, AgriStack, PLI Schemes, ODOP, GatiShakti, High Economic Indicators like GSTN, EPFO Trends, Import/Export Trends
6. Entrepreneurship (Solo, Nano-Micro): Access to Skilling, Access to Credit, Access to Market
7. Lifelong Learning (Education / Skilling/Upskilling/Re-Skilling): Common Education / Skills Registry, National Framework, Academic Bank of Credit, Apprenticeship, Government / Private Funded Skill Courses, Social Stock Exchange Program, Credits & Badges
8. Digital Skilling (Anytime Anywhere Learning): Online/Blended Skilling, AR/VR/XR, Multimedia Learning, Online Assessments, Digital Discovery of Courses and Centers (Skills Hubs/ ITI) on Map
9. Counselling & Mentorship: Career - Jobs and Skills, Entrepreneurship - Business Models, Financial Management, Branding & Marketing
10. Skills Market Place: Platform for Exchange of Skills Services
11. Demand Aggregation: Opportunity for Candidate and Industry to Express Demand

Market-led demand-driven skilling aligning to Industry 4.0:

• The future skills form a substantial part of this set and require a focused and calibrated approach for adoption in the Skill India Mission. The Government has a strong focus on development of future skills across domains such as Drone, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Electric Vehicle (EV), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML), 5G technologies, Mechatronics, Cloud Computing, Block Chain, Extended reality (XR) including Augmented and Virtual reality, Cyber Security, 3D Printing, VLSI design among many others which shall drive the economy forward as a manufacturing and services driver.
• Till date, 146 future skills qualifications have already been approved by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to offer courses for the youth of the nation in these disciplines. The government is driving the development of qualifications in many Industry 4.0 areas such as Precision Agriculture, Predictive Maintenance, Simulation Technologies, Data Analysis, Telemedicine and many others in above and other areas.
• Fee-based training through National Skill Development Corporation (creating a pool of for-profit training partners to enable skill training across 40 sectors).
• 32700+ centres opened under the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) since 2014.
• A total of 2.14 crore+ candidates trained till date. 1.96 crore+ trained between 2014-Nov’2023.
• Financial Support of ₹1873 crore+ provided at a concessional rate of interest to 350+ partners by way of loans, equity & grants for creating skilling & training infrastructure and working capital needs. ₹1209 crore+ disbursed between June 2014-Nov’23.
• Skill Loan initiative launched in the year 2022 to supplement the government's efforts to stimulate credit supply in the skilling sector. Under this initiative, NSDC provides a Line of Credit facility to reputed financial institutions (FIs) / NBFCs which in turn provides Skill Loans at attractive Rates of Interest to aspiring candidates for skill development & enhancement purposes. ₹30 crore of funds disbursed to 5 NBFCs benefitting 4500+ candidates till Nov’23.
• In order to facilitate a quick rollout of drone courses in more than 500 ITIs the ministry has accorded in-principle approved for ITIs with the grading of II or more to start NSQF-aligned DRONE courses with National Trade Certificate (NTC) certificate (Ex: CTS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)/ Drone Pilot, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)/ Drone Pilot, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)/Drone Pilot (CTS), Drone Technician). Approval has already been granted to 39 ITIs to start short-term drone courses and to 100 ITIs to start short-term drone courses.

Apprenticeship Training

Promoting Apprenticeship Training: One of the most sustainable formats of skill development

● Currently, around 7.09 lakh apprentices are engaged in various establishments across the country.

● 24,74,714 apprentices enrolled till 29th November 2023.

● 1,82,057 establishments have been registered on the apprenticeship portal (www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in).

● It is expected that during the current Financial Year, 15 lakh apprentices will be engaged by the establishment under the Apprenticeship Training programme.

● 6-12 months of on-the-job training for post-graduation program provided.

● Major apprenticeship reforms were done in BTP, NAPS Guidelines, optional trade course rationalization, Examination, and portal procedures. Eleven Office Memorandums have been issued regarding the same.

● Training completed of 9,25,260 lakh apprentices till date.

● Pilot DBT underway since July 2022. More than 2.41 lakh DBT transactions worth ₹35.02 crore till date.

● Pan India DBT rolled out on 11th August 2023. 117.59 crore disbursed through DBT.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) launched under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has revolutionized the apprenticeship landscape, ensuring that stipends directly reach the apprentices' bank accounts. The launch of DBT in the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme is a big step towards fulfilling our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of making skilling an apprenticeship aspirational as well as encouraging earning while learning as envisioned in NEP.

Promoting Entrepreneurship

● NIESBUD has established 21 extension centres at NSTIs to increase its footprint across the country.

● A 3-year partnership “Education to Entrepreneurship: Empowering a generation of students, educators and entrepreneurs” between the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Meta. A letter of Intent (LoI) was shared with NIESBUD. Under the partnership with NIESBUD, 5 lakh entrepreneurs will get access to digital marketing skills by Meta over the next 3 years. Budding and existing entrepreneurs will be trained in digital marketing skills using Meta platforms in 7 regional languages, to begin with. Three short films were also showcased highlighting the details about the partnerships.

● Recently, a stone-laying ceremony for NSTI Plus was organised in Bhubaneshwar to elevate the capabilities of Odisha’s young cadre. NSTI Plus, under the Directorate General of Training (DGT), the apex organization of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will train 500 instructors in Phase-1 under the Craftsmen Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) and will further incorporate another 500 instructors for upskilling and reskilling.

● The envisioned NSTI Plus will also serve as a nucleus for emerging start-ups, an incubation centre, and a versatile hub for cultivating various skills. It also has the potential to serve as a prototype training facility for other states. Furthermore, educators play an immense role in moulding the future of youth and institutions like NSTI Plus have the potential to unlock the horizon of opportunities to instil soft skills, impart hands-on training on new technologies and foster an effective learning environment.

Online e-mentoring platform “UdyamDisha”, has been developed to handhold and guide aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and facilitate online mentoring services.

Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP)

● The Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) programme was launched in January 2018, to lay emphasis on supporting structural reform and strengthening the overall systems governing, managing, and monitoring Skill Development, both at the national and state levels. The programme was also designed to support existing government efforts to scale up the delivery of short-term training. Three key Result Areas (RAs) were conceptualised under the programme, as given below:

1. Result Area 1 – Institutional Strengthening at the National and State Levels for Planning, Delivering, and Monitoring High-quality Market Relevant Training.

2. Result Area 2 – Improved Quality and Market Relevance of Skill Development Programmes

3. Result Area 3 - Improved Access to and Completion of Skills Training for Female Trainees and Other Disadvantaged Groups

Below is a list of key achievements under respective Result Areas of the SANKALP Programme:

1. Decentralisation of planning and implementation of Skill Development Activities: Skill Development efforts in the country need to be relevant for the population of respective districts and identification of such necessary initiatives could be done most effectively and efficiently at the district level. The development of District Skill Development Plans, formalised at the State level, was put into practice, on the basis of which skill development initiatives are aligned. This, in turn, strengthens the skilling ecosystem. The DSDPs are empowering the District Officials through a bottom-up approach, leading to a greater acceptance of the Skill Development initiatives. The programme also instituted ‘Awards for Excellence’ in District Skill Development Planning (DSDP Awards) to recognise the efforts and determination of the districts. In the last edition of the awards, DSDPs from 476 districts were evaluated, 30 were shortlisted, of which 8 districts were conferred with the ‘Award of Excellence’, 13 districts were awarded the ‘Certificate of Excellence’, and 9 districts were felicitated with the ‘Letter of Appreciation’. As of 31st October 2023, a total of 748 DSCs have been institutionalised and 711 districts have been onboarded on the DiSPAK portal. A total of 691 DSDPs for FY 22-23 have been submitted by the Districts on SANKALP Portal.

2. Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF): The Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship was conceptualised to deploy professionals, known as, MGNF Fellows for institutionalising skill development planning and implementation at the grassroot level. The fellows support the District Skill Committees in the formulation of the District Skill Development Plans during their two-year fellowship, awarded to them in partnership with 9 IIMs, the premier institutes in the country. In the second phase of the fellowship, launched on October 25, 2021, 657 MGNF Fellows were deployed in 657 districts. Furthermore, the second phase aimed to empower District Skill Committees in the formulation and implementation of District Skill Development Plans (DSDP) that would cater to the specific skilled manpower needs of the local economy. The success of the implementation of the DSDPs can partly be credited to the efforts of the MGNF Fellows, who act as the catalysts of social change. The second phase has been completed and the convocation ceremony has been conducted for 581 fellows on 31.10.2023.

3. An initiative to train People with Disability as trainers is being implemented to improve the quality of training imparted to PwD candidates. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship envisions mainstream PwD professionals as trainers and to improve the quality and reach of PwD training. Till date, a total of 10 master trainers have been trained of a total of 25 in two batches. As of 31st October 2023, a total of 62 PwD trainers have been trained and certified.

4. The AVSAR Project: To facilitate skill training and boost employment prospects for women in the apparel sector, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to launch the “AVSAR” project as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, which celebrates 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements. The initiative will certify 4500 women from self-help groups (SHGs) and transgenders in vocational courses under the SANKALP programme. Till date, 2842 women have been enrolled and 31 women have been trained under the project. As of 31st October 2023, a total of 4,468 women have been trained and 2738 women have been certified under the project.

Special Projects:

• Skill Certification and Training of Prospective Retirees of Indian Army as Trainers and Assessors is a special project to train, recognise, and certify the skills acquired by retiring soldiers of the Indian Army with over 17 years of service, and also undertake Training of Trainers (ToT) and Training of Assessors (ToA) program to optimally utilise their potential in enhancing the training and assessments in the skill ecosystem. The project aims to train 5000 candidates at 26 identified Army Training Centres in 28 job roles across 12 sectors for a period of 6 months.

• The on-ground implementation is being done by the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV). The project involved Domain and Platform training of the candidates for six days each, followed by assessments by respective SSCs. As of 06.10.2023, 5,129 candidates have been enrolled (domain), 5,129 candidates have been trained (domain) and 4,941 candidates have been certified (domain). In addition, 2,613 candidates have completed Platform Training (i.e., TOT/ TOA certified).

• To create a robust skill-centric and industry-ready ecosystem in the North-Eastern Region (NER), a special initiative called ‘Transforming Lives, Building Futures: Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in North-East was launched. As part of the initiative, 2.5 lahks talented youth of the NER will be provided with industry-relevant skill training programmes through a wide array of schemes and initiatives, including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS).

• The Government has earmarked a substantial fund of ₹360 crore to facilitate inclusive development, nurture entrepreneurial talent, and propel the socio-economic growth of the region. To fuel further growth, concerted efforts are being made to provide vocational education and skill development programs to cater to the demand for skilled professionals across sectors, including agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and information technology.

India Institute of Skills Kanpur:

Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Kanpur announced three key partnerships with Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Kanpur and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Dassault Aircraft Services India Pvt Ltd. (DASI) aligned with the objective of MSDE, which is to empower and prepare the local youth for the aerospace and defense sector particularly to support the defense industrial corridor in Uttar Pradesh.

IndiaSkills 2023-24

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), operating under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is set to host the mega contest, IndiaSkills 2023-24 — a pan-India competition anticipating participation from lakhs of aspirants. This prestigious event seeks to celebrate a myriad of skills, empowering individuals to envision a future filled with opportunities.

The IndiaSkills competition is designed to align training standards with global benchmarks, fostering synergies with various industries. Participants will undergo a rigorous selection process at multiple levels—district, state, zonal, and national—with the ultimate reward being the chance to represent India in the WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, in 2024.