Weekly Newsbytes on Skills and Education

This week’s NSN Newsbytes highlight India’s push towards a future-ready, employment-oriented workforce through policy reform, technology integration, and global collaboration. The Union Budget 2026–27 and Economic Survey 2025–26 reinforce this direction by prioritising early vocational education, apprenticeships, and industry participation under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Key developments include the announcement of India’s first AI-enabled university with Google Cloud, the expansion of Microsoft Elevate WAVE across ITIs and NSTIs, and stronger international cooperation with the EU, France, Japan, and the World Economic Forum.

At the state and industry level, ITI modernisation, AI and drone skilling programmes, CSR initiatives, and stipend-backed training schemes continue to strengthen last-mile skilling, women’s participation, and youth employability.

Here we go with this week’s edition of our weekly newsbytes!

Budget 2026-27: Highlights on Skilling, Employment and Education

Union Budget 2026, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, outlined a Three Kartavya framework with strong emphasis on skill development to drive growth, employment, and inclusive capacity building. Read More

Apprenticeship opportunities – Apply Now!

The Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL) has announced recruitment for 364 apprentice posts for 2026, inviting applications from ITI, diploma and graduate candidates. The last date to apply is February 28. Click here to know more!
The Indian Oil Corporation has announced recruitment for 394 apprentice posts, inviting eligible candidates to apply online by February 10, 2026, through its official website. Click here to know more!
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Chennai has announced walk-in recruitment for 99 apprentice posts, inviting ITI, diploma and graduate candidates from February 5 to 7, 2026. Visit the official website to know more!
GRID-INDIA has invited online applications for Graduate Apprentices 2025–26 in engineering, finance and HR disciplines under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Applications will be accepted only through online mode. The application window will open on January 24, 2026, at 00:00 hours, and will close on February 8, 2026, at 23:45 hours. Click here to apply and know more!
Google announced paid internship and apprenticeship opportunities for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students at its Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad offices, with applications open until March 31, 2026. Click here to know more!

Highlights from this week’s Newsbytes

MSDE showcased its “Powered by Skills” tableau at the Republic Day Parade, highlighting ITI toppers, WorldSkills Asia achievements, inclusive skilling, and India’s journey toward a self-reliant, future-ready workforce.
India and the EU are expanding their strategic partnership beyond trade, placing education, skills development and mobility at the core of cooperation under the 2026 India-EU Strategic Agenda.
Economic Survey 2025-26 emphasised early vocational education, stronger industry participation, apprenticeships and digital monitoring to improve workforce quality and achieve Viksit Bharat 2047 goals.
India will establish its first AI-enabled university as MSDE partners with Google Cloud and CCSU Meerut to create a national framework for AI-driven educational excellence.

Government initiatives and strategic launches in skill development

MSDE and Microsoft expanded their partnership to launch Microsoft Elevate WAVE, aiming to equip 2 lakh students with AI skills across 1,000+ ITIs and 33 NSTIs nationwide.
MSDE Secretary Debashree Mukherjee met the French Ambassador to strengthen India-France cooperation in skill development, vocational education, and globally aligned workforce partnerships.
NSDC International is partnering with six states to set up Japanese Language Training Centres, preparing rural youth for overseas employment in Japan under global mobility programmes.
MSDE officials visited PCMC’s Kaushalyam and Sakhi Angan projects in Pimpri Chinchwad to review skill development and women’s empowerment initiatives at the grassroots level.
The World Economic Forum announced a global skilling initiative to reach over 850 million people, launching new skills and education accelerators in India and Jordan.
The ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Anjaw, conducted a two-day vocational training on kiwi orchard training and pruning, promoting scientific cultivation practices to improve fruit quality and yields under PMDDKY.

State-led skilling and institutional reforms

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the state’s first Drone School and Centre of Excellence in Kohima to equip youth with advanced drone skills and promote technology-led employment.
BRAOU will soon launch agriculture-based vocational courses to empower rural Telangana students and farmers with job-oriented, skill-focused education aligned to employment opportunities in India and abroad.
Maharashtra cabinet approved the modernisation of ITIs under the PM-SETU scheme, starting with centres in Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Pune, using a hub-and-spoke model.
Kerala announced ambitious employment and skilling initiatives, including a ₹600 crore ‘Connect to Work’ scheme offering ₹1,000 monthly stipends to students in skill training and exam preparation.
The Society for Employment Promotion and Training in Twin Cities (SETWIN) is expanding its outreach to train and place rural youth across Telangana, leveraging its network of 30 skill centres to boost employability and livelihoods.
Uttarakhand CM Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off Infosys Springboard’s ‘Lab on Wheels’ to provide students with hands-on learning in AI, coding, IoT and emerging technologies statewide.

Industry-Led collaborations driving workforce readiness

Google announced paid internship and apprenticeship roles for Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students at its Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad offices, with applications open until March 31, 2026.
Telecom PLI schemes have created 25,000 manufacturing jobs and ₹13,000 crore in exports, highlighting the impact of Skill India, Make in India, and Rozgar Mela initiatives.
India’s gem and jewellery industry urged duty-free access to the EU market amid India-EU FTA talks, citing strong export potential and current tariffs of 2.5-4%.
Reliance Jio launched an AI education campaign in Andhra Pradesh, training students and teachers using Google Gemini Pro, reaching 1,500 schools and 20,000 participants.
Medtronic signed an MoU with ASI Telangana to train residents and early-career surgeons in open and laparoscopic procedures through technology-enabled, blended learning programmes.
NTTC Dimapur and Cyient Foundation signed an MoU in Hyderabad to strengthen skill development and boost employability opportunities for youth across Nagaland.

CSR initiatives in skilling and education

HDFC Bank and Nasscom Foundation launched a Parivartan Skilling Centre in Meerut to train 1,950 underserved youth, boosting employability with strong women participation under CSR.

To know more, check out the latest updates on CSR and ESG initiatives that are creating a meaningful impact in skill development and education here: https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/csr-and-esg-in-skill-education/

AI, Innovation, and the Future of Academic Skilling

SRMIST partnered with Volvo Group India to set up a Virtual Vehicle Technologies Centre of Excellence, strengthening industry–academia collaboration in advanced automotive engineering skills.
Bihar Engineering University and the State Board of Technical Education signed an MoU with NASSCOM under FutureSkills Prime to deliver industry-aligned digital skilling for technical students.
Entri partnered with Udemy to expand AI and job-ready upskilling for India’s vernacular learners, combining expert-led global courses with local language training programmes.
IIT Tirupati signed an MoU with PALS to strengthen skill development through internships, faculty training, and joint hackathons, enhancing academic outreach and capacity building.

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