MSDE unveils new initiatives to
strengthen India’s future-ready skilling ecosystem
New Delhi : “The
future belongs to those who continue to learn, adapt and innovate. India’s
youth must be prepared not only for today’s jobs, but also for tomorrow’s
opportunities,” said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State
(Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of
State for Education, Government of India, at the World Youth Skills Day
2026 celebrations organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.
Emphasising that skilling must
be viewed as a lifelong journey, the Minister said, “Through IndiaSkills,
Centres of Excellence, apprenticeships and stronger industry partnerships, we
are creating pathways that connect young people with opportunities in India and
across the world. We must also encourage more women to enter non-traditional
sectors and enable every young Indian to challenge the status quo, embrace
change and contribute to Viksit Bharat.”
During the event, the Minister
unveiled the IndiaSkills Competition 2026–27 Guidelines, outlining the
roadmap for India’s flagship skill competition across 63 industry-relevant
skill categories. Registrations are now open on the Skill India Digital Hub for
aspiring competitors from across the country.
The WorldSkills India
Champions Club was also launched to bring together IndiaSkills and
WorldSkills champions as mentors and ambassadors. The initiative will enable
past champions to inspire aspiring competitors, promote excellence in
vocational skills and support the next generation of skilled talent.
India’s medal winners from the
Global Skills Challenge Australia 2026 and the Taipei Capital Cup 2026 were
felicitated for securing a combined tally of three Gold Medals, three
Silver Medals, one Bronze Medal and three Merit Awards, reinforcing India’s
growing competitiveness on the global skills stage.
The Ministry also unveiled the Guidelines
for the Creation of Centres of Excellence under Skill India. These
guidelines aim to support the development of world-class, industry-aligned
training facilities equipped with modern infrastructure, advanced technologies
and strong industry partnerships.
A major highlight was the
introduction of the Training Programme for Multi-Skilled Caregivers under
PMKVY, in line with the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement to skill 1.5 lakh
caregiving professionals. Of these, 1.3 lakh candidates will be trained through
the MSDE ecosystem, creating a professionally trained workforce for healthcare,
geriatric and home-based care while opening new employment opportunities,
particularly for women and youth.
The event also marked the extension
of the Pilot Project for Apprenticeship Engagement under NAPS in the North
Eastern Region, aimed at expanding access to workplace-based learning and
strengthening industry participation across the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms.
Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, said, “Over the past 11 years, Skill
India has evolved into a connected national ecosystem built through
partnerships with States, industry and training institutions, empowering more
than six crore youth. As we enter the next phase, our focus must move from
scale to quality, relevance and outcomes. The theme ‘Skills for a Shared
Future’ also reminds us that women and girls must remain central to India’s
growth story.”
MSDE also announced the
constitution of a Committee on Gender Mainstreaming to advance women-led
development across the skilling ecosystem. Bringing together Ministry
divisions, partner institutions and concerned Ministries, the Committee will
work in mission mode to address barriers across the skilling-to-employment
pathway, including outreach, mobility, training, apprenticeships, placements,
retention and career progression.
The Ministry will also invite
entries for a Best Practices Compendium on Skilling and Employment for Women,
documenting evidence-based models that have improved women’s access to skills,
employment, entrepreneurship and inclusive workplaces. Entries will open on July
20, 2026, for participation by government departments, States and Union
Territories, industry, training institutions, CSR organisations and civil
society.
Another major initiative
announced was the proposed Skills Outcomes Fund, an outcomes-based
financing platform of approximately ₹530 crore that will combine Government
funding, CSR contributions and philanthropic capital to support more than two
lakh young people with industry-aligned skilling, employment and livelihood
opportunities.
An MoU was first exchanged
between MSDE and NSDC for establishing the Fund within NSDC under the aegis of
the Ministry. This was followed by an MoU between NSDC and the British Asian
India Foundation for developing the India Skills Outcomes Platform. Funding
under the initiative will be linked to independently verified milestones such
as certification, placement and retention, strengthening accountability,
innovation and industry relevance.
The event also featured the
unveiling of the design of the proposed sculpture, “Skilled India, Empowered
India – A Collective Growth Story,” to be installed at Kaushal Bhawan. The
sculpture pays tribute to generations of artisans, workers, professionals,
innovators and entrepreneurs whose skills have shaped India’s progress.
Skilled women learners from the Chaudhary
Ajit Singh Centre of Excellence for Design and Fashion Technology, Baghpat,
Uttar Pradesh, were also felicitated. The Centre has trained its first
batch of 50 women as advance Sewing Machine Operators through industry-aligned
training that integrates modern technologies, AI-powered learning solutions,
and advanced manufacturing practices. The initiative demonstrates how
future-ready skilling is strengthening livelihoods, enhancing employability and
advancing women's economic empowerment.
The event was attended by Shri
Dilip Kumar, Director General, DGT; Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhanshu, Additional
Secretary, MSDE; Ms. Manisha Sensarma, Senior Economic Adviser, MSDE; Shri
Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, NSDC; along with industry leaders, representatives of
State Skill Missions and Sector Skill Councils, training partners, WorldSkills
champions, learners and officials from across the Skill India ecosystem.