Latest news with #SkillIndiaMission
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Developing skills, transforming young lives
RAJASTHAN: In a country where traditional education rarely gets students industry-ready, the need for practical, skill-based training has never been felt more profoundly. Despite a number of governmental initiatives and efforts by private entities, the gulf between academics and industry needs persists in most parts of India. Rising to meet this challenge in an innovative, technology-driven way is Jaipur-based entrepreneur Shipra Sharma Bhutani, whose work in the skill development sector is not only bridging the education-industry gap but also transforming countless lives across the nation. An alumna of IIM-Calcutta, Shipra is the founder and CEO of Capacita Connect, one of India's most successful tech startups in the skill development space. With four rounds of funding, Capacita is a trailblazer in training youth and professionals in emerging technologies — from artificial intelligence (AI) to blockchain, cybersecurity and data analytics. Her startup has already won recognitions like the CII Industrial Innovation Award. It has also been featured in Forbes India's prestigious Global Indian Brands and Leaders edition, alongside legacy groups like the Tata, Bajaj, Birla, HCL and Mahindra. Her app, which supports India's Skill India Mission, is one of the fastest-growing platforms in the country. In 2019, Shipra was listed among Forbes India's leading entrepreneurs. A brand ambassador for She's Mercedes, she has also been honoured with the Rajasthan Industry Icon Award.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Equipping youth with practical skills essential for building self-reliant, capable India: Governor
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday inaugurated the Indian Institute of Future Skills at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in Mysuru. In his inaugural address, Mr. Gehlot said that equipping youth with practical skills is essential for building a self-reliant and capable India. He said that skill-based education is a powerful catalyst for the social and economic empowerment of rural, underprivileged, and marginalised communities. 'Only when every youth is equipped with both knowledge and practical skills can the vision of a 'Skilled and Capable India' be realised,' he said. The Governor noted that various government initiatives—both at the Centre and in States—are helping India move towards becoming the 'Skill Capital of the World' and highlighted flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, National Skill Development Mission, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and the Skill India Mission. These schemes were instrumental in enhancing youth employability and meeting industry demands. 'India has a demographic advantage with around 65% of the population under the age of 35. By providing this youth population with proper training and guidance, India can achieve economic, social, and technological strength on the global stage,' he remarked. Mr. Gehlot stressed the growing importance of emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and digital marketing, describing them as vital areas that are transforming economies and creating new avenues for employment and innovation. Praising the collaboration behind the launch of the new skill centre, the Governor lauded the joint efforts of KSOU, the National Skill Development Corporation, Skill India, and the Ethnotech Group in establishing the Indian Institute of Future Skills at KSOU. He also commended KSOU for its NAAC A+ accreditation. Sharing a personal anecdote, the Governor recalled his early days working at the Birla company in Madhya Pradesh, where he took on multiple roles despite being appointed as a supervisor. 'Doing every kind of job helps one build comprehensive skills,' he said. Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Sri Adichunchanagiri Math, Prakashanath Swami, managing director of SJB and BGS Group of Institutions and Hospitals, Sharanappa V. Halse, Vice-Chancellor of KSOU, Nagaraja N.M., managing director of Karnataka Skill Development Corporation, and other dignitaries were present.
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
The Skill Economy Is Here, and Most Companies Are Still Hiring for Roles
India's workforce is at a crossroads. While the global economy shifts towards skill-based hiring, a significant gap persists between the skills employers need and those job seekers possess. According to the India Skills Report 2025, only 54.81% of Indian graduates are deemed employable, despite a 7% year-on-year improvement. This paradox underscores a critical challenge: the rise of the skill economy has not yet translated into systemic changes in hiring practices, leaving companies scrambling to fill roles rather than cultivating talent aligned with future-ready capabilities. The Skill Economy: India's Progress and Persistent Gaps The Skill India Mission, launched in 2015, has trained over 40 crore individuals, contributing to a notable rise in employability—from 33% a decade ago to 54.81% in 2025. Initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have enabled sectors such as IT, healthcare, and renewable energy to bridge skill gaps. For instance, Karnataka's PMKVY centres trained 1.2 lakh youths in 2023–24, with 68% securing roles in high-demand industries like cybersecurity and green energy. However, the Wheebox ETS India Skills Report 2025 reveals stark disparities. While management graduates boast 78% employability, women's employability rates have declined to 47.5%, highlighting systemic inequities. Furthermore, only 50% of secondary and tertiary students receive vocational training, leaving a void in sectors like AI and fintech, which require 400,000 skilled professionals by 2030. Why Companies Still Hire for Roles, Not Skills Despite the skill economy's promise, most Indian firms remain entrenched in traditional hiring models. A 2024 survey by TeamLease indicates that 62% of companies prioritise academic credentials over demonstrable skills, citing risk aversion and a lack of robust assessment frameworks. This mismatch is evident in sectors like manufacturing, where 45% of employers report difficulty finding workers with automation expertise, despite India's $2.5 trillion construction industry demanding such skills. The tech sector exemplifies this dichotomy. While India produces 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, only 35% possess coding proficiency, per NASSCOM. Yet, firms like Infosys and Wipro continue to recruit en masse for generic roles, investing ₹10,000–15,000 crore annually in upskilling post-hire—a reactive approach that strains resources and delays productivity. Case Studies: Bridging the Skill-Role Divide 1. Renewable Energy Sector: ReNew Power partnered with NIIT to design a 6-month certification program in solar panel maintenance and grid management. This initiative reduced onboarding time by 40% and improved operational efficiency by 25%, demonstrating the value of pre-skilled talent. 2. Healthcare: Apollo Hospitals introduced a blended learning model for nurses, combining AI-driven simulations with on-the-job training. This reduced diagnostic errors by 18% and cut training costs by 30%. 3. MSMEs in Tier-2 Cities: A Surat-based textile SME adopted our skill-mapping audit to identify and upskill workers in digital inventory management. This led to a 20% reduction in waste and a 15% increase in export orders within a year. The Impact of Misaligned Hiring Practices Companies adhering to role-based hiring face three critical risks: 1. Productivity Loss: It takes 6–8 months to upskill hires for specialised roles, during which productivity lags by 30–40%. 2. Attrition: A LinkedIn report notes that 67% of employees leave within a year if their skills are underutilised. 3. Innovation Stagnation: Firms lose ground to agile competitors who leverage niche skills in AI and data analytics. For India, the stakes are high. With 65% of its workforce under 35, the country must align its demographic dividend with emerging sectors. The construction industry alone needs 7.5 crore skilled workers by 2030, yet current training capacity meets only 40% of demand. A Roadmap for Businesses and Policymakers To thrive in the skill economy, stakeholders must adopt a proactive approach: 1. Skill-Centric Recruitment: ● Use AI-driven platforms like Wheebox's Global Employability Test to assess candidates' problem-solving and technical abilities. ● Expand apprenticeship programs under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), which has placed 5 lakh youths since 2023. 2. Industry-Education Collaboration: ● Integrate vocational training into academic curricula. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandates this, but only 12 states have implemented it effectively. ● Develop micro-credentials in partnership with platforms like Coursera, which saw a 200% surge in Indian enrollments for AI and blockchain courses in 2024. 3. Gender Inclusivity: ● Address the 8% gender gap in employability through targeted initiatives. For example, Tech Mahindra's 'Women in Tech' program has upskilled 15,000 women in cloud computing since 2022. 4. Government Incentives: ● Expand the Scope of PLI Schemes to include SMEs investing in employee upskilling. ● Offer tax breaks for companies that hire certified candidates from Skill India programs. From Roles to Skills—A Strategic Imperative The skill economy is not a distant future—it is here. Companies clinging to outdated hiring models risk obsolescence in an era where adaptability determines survival. For India, aligning its workforce with global demands requires a concerted effort from businesses, educators, and policymakers. By prioritising skills over roles, fostering inclusivity, and leveraging technology, India can transform its demographic potential into economic leadership. (The author is Founder of Stratefix Consulting)
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Building skills essential: Governor
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Friday said skill development and education should go hand-in-hand to create a globally competitive workforce. To achieve this goal, the Governor said there is a need for stronger collaboration between educational institutions and skill development centres. He was speaking during the inauguration of the NSDC's (National Skill Development Corporation) international centre at the Skill Development Institute (SDI), Bhubaneswar. Referring to the National Education Policy 2020, the Governor said there is also a need to integrate skill training with higher education. 'In today's globalised world, building skills is essential for increasing productivity, driving economic growth and empowering society,' he said. Kambhampati said skill development should also include support for entrepreneurship. Institutions should not only impart technical skills but also guide students on how to start businesses, get funding and find opportunities, he added. The Governor also stressed the importance of vocational education from an early age, stating that 'children learn faster than adults and should be introduced to vocational training as part of their curriculum'. On Skill India Mission, he commended the initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and appreciated Odisha's contribution under the leadership of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 'I am happy to witness Odisha emerging as a hub of skill and employment,' he said. The Governor lauded the SDI's state-of-the-art 47-acre campus built with a Rs 500-crore investment and hailed its role as a finishing school for engineering, polytechnic and ITI students. On the occasion, he inaugurated the NSDC International Academy, which aims to prepare youth for overseas employment, and flagged off the 'Skill on Wheel' project -- a mobile training unit designed to deliver outreach training programmes at the doorsteps of various educational institutions across Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Sampad Chandra Swain, said the institute will not only impart technical skills but also play a key role in shaping responsible and capable individuals.
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
India, Egypt agree on closer collaboration for skill development
New Delhi: India and Egypt have agreed to strengthen strategic collaboration in skill development with the aim of creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held here between officials of India's Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and an Egyptian delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Technical Education, Prof Ayman Bahaa El Din. "Looking ahead, the two countries identified several promising avenues for future cooperation. These include joint certification programmes, faculty and student exchanges, digital skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives, and the establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority sectors like information technology, agriculture, tourism, and green skills," the statement said. Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce and to using their partnership as a template for broader South-South cooperation. This engagement marks another milestone in the ever-strengthening India-Egypt relationship, building on the momentum of the 2023 elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the conferment of Egypt's highest civilian honour to Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. Secretary, MSDE, Atul Kumar Tiwari, highlighted the enduring people-to-people and institutional linkages between the two nations. He emphasised India's vision to become the "Skill Capital of the World" through the Skill India Mission, under which already close to 400,000 individuals have been trained in advanced domains such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data, while nurturing over 1.3 million entrepreneurs. India's efforts to align its vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem with global standards and the establishment of world-class Skill India International Centres were presented as models for international collaboration. The Egyptian delegation shared insights into Egypt's comprehensive TVET reforms, including the EU-supported TVET Egypt Reform Programme and the establishment of Sector Skill Councils, which resonate with India's scalable and affordable skilling models. Both sides acknowledged the success of ongoing collaborations, such as the 2024 MoU between India's NIELIT and Egypt's Information Technology Institute, the El-Sewedy Group's partnership with Amity University, and the Indian-supported Vocational Training Centre in Cairo, the statement added.
