NSDC and Mercedes-Benz Launch IGNiTE 4.0 Skill Programme

“As one million youth join our workforce every month, India must harness this demographic dividend through equity, inclusion, and opportunity. We are all witnessing how India is changing — the very fabric of our society is transforming. Women are emerging as true change agents — in sports, industry, STEM, and education — empowering not just themselves, but their families and communities,” said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Education, Government of India. He was speaking on the occasion of a landmark MoU signing between the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Mercedes-Benz India, which also marked the launch of the “IGNiTE 4.0” programme.

“The Government envisions employing 45 million people in the mobility sector alone, with 9 million in the EV ecosystem. Since the Global Mobility Summit of 2018, under the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a National Mission on Transformative Mobility, India has been steering towards e-mobility with purpose and precision. This moment calls for integrating cutting-edge technology into our skilling and education systems. This moment calls for integrating cutting-edge technology into our skilling and education systems. Our institutions must think beyond cost competitiveness — we must lead on innovation, product development, and intellectual property creation.”

“With the recent ₹60,000 crore allocation under PM-SETU, we are enabling lakhs of youth to gain national certifications, pursue ITI programs, and become job creators. This is how we make skilling aspirational — by fostering lifelong learning, breaking silos, and building a future-ready India. I am happy that initiatives like IGNiTE 4.0 are taking this vision forward — empowering our youth to drive the industries of tomorrow,” he added further.

The IGNiTE 4.0 aims to skill 1,000 young talents from economically challenged backgrounds in future-ready automotive technologies, especially Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Industry 4.0, while ensuring at least 30% participation of women. Training will be conducted through two advanced Skill Development Centres to be established at Manav Rachna University (Delhi-NCR) and MIT ADT University (Pune).

Under the partnership, a 12-month programme is designed to align India’s youth with the rapidly transforming automotive industry, which is witnessing unprecedented growth in Electric Vehicles (EVs), advanced manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Training will be imparted in critical job roles such as Electric Vehicle Service Assistant, Automotive Quality Control Assistant, Automotive Product Testing Technician, and Industry 4.0 Technician.

Shri Mr. Emrah Oezer, ED & CFO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz has always been committed to nurturing India's automotive ecosystem and human capital development. Through this partnership with NSDC, we are creating aspirational pathways for young promising talents from economically challenged background to participate meaningfully in India's rapidly evolving automotive landscape. This initiative aligns perfectly with our global commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, whilst addressing the industry's growing demand for skilled professionals in emerging technologies like electric mobility and Industry 4.0."

Implemented by Kedman Skilling Private Limited, the programme will adhere to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), with assessments conducted by relevant Sector Skill Councils to ensure global-quality benchmarks.

The comprehensive training programme offers specialised courses across four critical automotive domains: Electric Vehicle Service Assistant Automotive Quality Control Assistant Automotive Product Testing Technician and Industry 4.0 All training will be delivered through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform, ensuring standardised quality and comprehensive tracking.

The programme will be executed through a structured three-phase implementation approach: comprehensive needs assessment and centre establishment (Phase 1), intensive skill training and job mapping (Phase 2), and placement support with continuous mentoring (Phase 3). This methodology ensures sustainable outcomes and long-term career development for participants.

Beyond technical training, the initiative includes robust gender mainstreaming efforts, family sensitisation programmes, and stakeholder engagement to support women's workforce participation. The placement team will conduct mock interviews, one-on-one counselling, and external capacity-building sessions, whilst mapping available jobs that align with candidates' skill sets. The programme will also ensure workplace exposure visits, entrepreneurship development, and sustained post-placement guidance.

The programme directly addresses India's ambitious vision to become a developed nation by 2047, whilst capitalising on the automotive sector's projected growth to employ over 45 million individuals by 2026. With EV sales projected to exceed 9 million units annually by 2027, creating over 10 million direct jobs and 50 million indirect jobs by 2030, this initiative positions participants at the forefront of India's automotive transformation.

Through this partnership, Mercedes-Benz and NSDC are setting new benchmarks for industry-academia-community collaboration, creating pathways for inclusive economic participation whilst addressing critical skill gaps in India's automotive transformation journey.