This week’s NSN Newsbytes highlight India’s accelerated push towards AI-driven learning, industry-aligned training, and future-ready workforce development. A major announcement by the Prime Minister on establishing a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at NSTI Kanpur, in collaboration with France, signals a strong focus on advanced aviation and defence skills under PM-SETU.
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship showcased “AI for Inclusive Development,” reinforcing the government’s commitment to AI-enabled growth. NITI Aayog’s report on revitalising the apprenticeship ecosystem further emphasised structural reforms in employment-linked skilling.
Alongside national initiatives, states and industry leaders launched AI programmes, entrepreneurship training, disaster management skilling, and academia-industry partnerships, collectively strengthening India’s skill development ecosystem and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Here we go with this week’s edition of our weekly newsbytes –
Tata STRIVE Job Openings – AI-driven job roles in the ITI ecosystem
Tata STRIVE, an initiative of the Tata Community Initiatives Trust (TCIT), is inviting applications under Tata STRIVE Job Openings for multiple roles supporting AI-enabled skilling initiatives across Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in India. These roles are part of a nationwide effort to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into non-IT vocational trades such as Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive, and Fashion Technology. Interested candidates can apply and submit their resume here. Click here!
ASDC Invites RFP for National Automobile Olympiad 2026
ASDC has issued an RFP inviting partners to organise the National Automobile Olympiad for automotive skills development. Eligible providers must submit sealed proposals by 25 February 2026, 4:00 PM, at ASDC’s Okhla office, New Delhi. Click here to submit your proposals!
National Skills Test 2026 by Tata IIS – Registrations Open
The National Skills Test (NST) 2026, conducted by the Tata Indian Institute of Skills (IIS), is now open for registrations. NST serves as a national-level, merit-based entry assessment for candidates seeking admission to industry-aligned skill-based programs across educational levels, including 10th pass, 12th pass, ITI, diploma, and engineering graduates.
Registration Deadline: 28 February 2026
Test Date: 8 March 2026
Apprenticeship opportunities – Apply Now!
- Punjab National Bank announced Apprentice Recruitment 2026 for 5,138 positions under the Apprentices Act, with online applications open from February 8 to 24, 2026, for one-year training nationwide. Click here to apply!
- Western Railway has invited online applications for 5,349 Act Apprentice posts for 2025-26 under the Apprentices Act, 1961, offering National Apprenticeship Certificate holders recruitment preference. Click here to Apply!
- Yantra India Limited commenced online registration for its 2026 Apprentice recruitment drive, aiming to fill 3,979 posts across Ordnance and Ordnance Equipment Factories under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Click here to Apply!
Highlights from this week’s Newsbytes
- The Prime Minister announced a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at NSTI Kanpur, under PM-SETU, in collaboration with France, to advance aviation and defence training.
- HR leaders highlight a widening gap between academic learning and workplace readiness, noting that many graduates excel in examinations but lack the practical skills required to perform effectively in real-world roles.
- NITI Aayog released a policy report titled “Revitalising Apprenticeship Ecosystem,” outlining challenges and recommendations to strengthen apprenticeships as a key pillar of India’s skilling and employment strategy.
India AI Impact Summit 2026: Major announcements and global AI milestones
- Union Minister for Electronics and IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 that India expanded its AI compute roadmap by adding 20,000 GPUs to its existing 38,000 GPU capacity, marking a major scale-up in national AI infrastructure.
- Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Shri Jayant Chaudhary visited MSDE’s pavilion at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, showcasing scalable, India-first AI solutions driving inclusive growth and human capital development.
- At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India moved to strengthen its global AI position by scaling compute capacity with an additional 20,000 GPUs in the coming weeks.
- The India AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact endorsed by 89 countries, while Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted participation from 118 countries and over 100 global AI leaders, reinforcing India’s growing leadership in global AI cooperation and governance.
Government initiatives in skill development and education
- The Ministry of Skill Development showcased “AI for Inclusive Development” at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, highlighting initiatives to equip youth with AI-ready skills and promote inclusive growth.
- Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, inaugurated the IndiaSkills 2025-26 West Regional Competition in Gandhinagar, where over 200 participants from five states are competing across 63 skill categories in a four-day showcase.
- The Ministry of Education hosted a special session titled “Ministry of Education – Pushing the Frontier of AI in India” on 17 February 2026 in New Delhi, advancing AI integration across education and skilling under NEP 2020.
State-led skilling, innovation and reforms
- The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) launched a four-week Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme in Jammu under the RAMP scheme, training 32 aspiring entrepreneurs to promote self-employment and sustainable MSME growth.
- NSDC, in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Training and the Telangana Council of Higher Education, is hosting the South Regional Skills Competition in Hyderabad from 21-24 February 2026, showcasing 42 skills and expanding training, apprenticeship, and international language programmes.
- Nagaland’s Drone School – Centre of Excellence marked the successful completion of its first 14-day FPV Drone Training Programme, certifying trainees and strengthening technical capacity in emerging drone technologies.
- Nashik Mayor Himgauri Aher announced plans to establish a skill development university to equip youth with industry-oriented training, addressing regional skill gaps and meeting growing workforce demands.
- A two-week entrepreneurship skill development programme was inaugurated at SITAM, Vizianagaram, by APMSME with World Bank support, promoting entrepreneurial thinking and business skills among students to foster job creation.
- A State-Level Capacity Building Workshop on Career Handbooks and the My Career Adviser App was held in Mizoram, strengthening career guidance initiatives and promoting informed career exploration among students.
- Maharashtra’s Skill Development Department launched India’s first “AI Living Lab” at RT-MSSU, Mumbai, with German support to enable MSMEs to adopt advanced technologies and improve operational efficiency.
- The Kerala state education department will launch ‘VHSE iConnect’ to strengthen academia-industry collaboration, enhancing employability, practical exposure, internships and placements for Vocational Higher Secondary students under the NSQF framework.
- Maharashtra is likely to host a national-level skill competition, with the Centre expressing support following discussions between State Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bahowal, conducted a five-day vocational training on modern goat farming, equipping farmers with scientific techniques to promote subsidiary occupations and enhance rural incomes.
- Bihar held high-level talks with the Asian Development Bank on investment proposals exceeding $1 billion, covering sectors including education and skill development to accelerate comprehensive economic growth.
- Maharashtra will provide phased disaster management training to nearly two lakh ITI students following an MoU between the Skill Development Department and Aniruddha’s Academy of Disaster Management.
- The Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission has established a ‘Kaushal Connect Cell’ to align training with industry needs, ensuring timely supply of skilled manpower to large-scale investments across the state.
Industry-led collaborations driving workforce readiness
- ICAR signed an MoU with Dr. Reddy’s Foundation to advance agricultural skilling, modernise extension systems and enhance livelihood opportunities for farmers and rural youth through a structured public–private partnership.
- PRISM, parent company of OYO, partnered with Emversity to launch a 24-month international hotel management training and placement programme, combining classroom learning in India with paid overseas internships.
- Amazon flagged off two “Think Big” AI Skills vans to deliver foundational AI and cloud computing education to government school students in Delhi/NCR and Haryana, expanding access to emerging technology training.
- Xiaomi India launched the ‘Xiaomi Edge – Next Gen Scholar Program’ to train over 30,000 Uttar Pradesh college students in AI and cybersecurity over three years, strengthening industry-aligned digital skills development.
- AP MedTech Zone marked eight years of its Innovation and Biomedical Skill Centre, which has trained over 10,000 candidates and offers 65+ NCVET-accredited programmes in biomedical and medical device skills.
CSR initiatives in skilling and education
- Vedanta Aluminium organised four ‘Vidyagraha’ education camps in Jharsuguda, benefiting nearly 200 government school students with structured Board exam assessments, concept-strengthening sessions, and expert career counselling support.
- Ambuja Cements organised an industrial exposure visit under Project Udaan for SEDI Ambujanagar trainees, enhancing practical learning through firsthand insights into plant operations, safety protocols and workplace systems.
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 and the Future of Higher Education
- NIT Rourkela signed an MoU with Odisha Mining Corporation for capacity building, technical upskilling and managerial development, alongside launching a three-day CPD programme on mineral resource management.
- Kotak Education Foundation signed an MoU with BharatGen Technology Foundation to deploy indigenous, multilingual AI solutions, strengthening AI integration and improving access to quality education across India.
- Amazon launched two “Think Big” AI Skills vans to deliver foundational AI and cloud computing education to government school students across Delhi/NCR and Haryana, expanding equitable access to emerging technology learning.
- NSDC, in partnership with IIT Mandi, launched a University-Integrated Minor in Artificial Intelligence, enabling students nationwide to earn academic credits and an IIT Mandi certificate in industry-aligned AI skills.
*IMPORTANT:
The Weekly Newsbytes on skills and education from NSN are curated and adapted from various sources with the sole objective of keeping our readers updated about the evolving skills industry in India.
We compile and adapt these new snippets from various sources. If any source has objections or other concerns, please write to us at contact@nationalskillsnetwork.in, providing valid reasons, and we will remove the link to your content.
