Weekly Newsbytes from NSN on Skill Development and Education – 20th January 2026

This week’s NSN Newsbytes capture the accelerating transformation of India’s skilling and workforce development ecosystem, as policy reform, industry collaboration, and technology-led innovation converge at scale. From high-level regulatory shifts led by NCVET and MSDE to state-driven reforms modernising ITIs, apprenticeships, and vocational pathways, the momentum reflects a clear national push towards outcome-oriented, learner-centric skilling aligned with future technologies and labour market demand.

Government initiatives this week underscore India’s growing global engagement in skills, education, and innovation, highlighted by India-Germany cooperation, fisheries capacity-building under PMMSY, evidence-based regulatory reforms, and national skilling calendars spanning 2025-27. At the same time, states such as Odisha, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana are strengthening last-mile skilling through AI labs, digital portals, defence-linked training, apprenticeship mobilisation, and student entrepreneurship initiatives.

Industry and academia continue to play a catalytic role, with partnerships driving workforce readiness in emerging sectors like semiconductors, AI, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, design, and QSR operations. CSR-led skilling models are expanding access for women, youth, and underserved communities, while apprenticeship data signals encouraging progress in women’s workforce participation.

Together, these developments reflect India’s evolving skilling narrative, one that integrates policy, industry, education, innovation, and inclusion to build a globally competitive, future-ready workforce aligned with national priorities such as NEP 2020, Skill India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Viksit Bharat.

Here we go with this week’s edition of our weekly updates –

Apprenticeship opportunities – Apply now!

• Bank of Maharashtra has opened applications for 600 apprentice positions under the Apprenticeship Act, offering graduates hands-on training in banking operations and customer services. Last date to apply is Janaury 25, 2026.
• THDC India Limited has announced ITI, Graduate and Diploma Apprenticeship opportunities for 2026 across Tehri, Rishikesh and Pipalkoti, offering one-year structured training under the Apprentices Act to strengthen power-sector skills and youth employability. Last date to apply is January 31, 2026.

• Requirement: Engineering Graduates (B.E./B.Tech) and Diploma Apprentices

  Instrumentation Limited, a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Heavy Industry and a leading manufacturer of control valves in India, invites applications from fresh candidates for engagement as Apprentices at its Palakkad office.

  The apprenticeship training will be for a period of one year. Last date for submission of applications: 09 February 2026. Click here to apply!

• Requirement: ITI Apprentices

  Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) proposes to engage ITI Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for a one-year apprenticeship training in the trades mentioned below. Applications are invited from eligible candidates for engagement as ITI Apprenticeship Trainees.

  Last date for submission of applications: 29 January 2026 (up to 5:00 PM). Click here to apply!

Highlights from this week’s Newsbytes – 

• Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary, chaired NCVET’s first General Body meeting, highlighting India’s shift to a unified, learner-centric skilling framework aligned with education, industry, and future technologies. These included SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) with over 1.74 lakh enrolments, Project Punah Sthapan supporting defence-to-civil workforce transitions, and the Semiconductor Workforce Strategy 2025 to build talent across the electronics value chain.
• Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi announced the establishment of AI labs in nine ITIs and plans to upgrade 47 ITIs into Centres of Excellence to enhance skills and promote job creation.

NSN presents Quiz on Manufacturing and Engineering. Take the quiz now and test your knowledge.

 Click here to take the Quiz on Manufacturing tools!

Government initiatives – Capacity-building and Apprenticeships

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz finalised 27 outcomes in Ahmedabad, strengthening cooperation across defence, trade, technology, renewable energy, and education sectors.
• MSME Technology Development Centre – Process and Product Development Centre (PPDC), Agra, launched a six-week Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme via its Srinagar centre to train youth in EVs, energy systems, innovation, and MSME entrepreneurship.
• Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh released a national training and capacity-building calendar for fisheries under PMMSY, outlining skill programmes and exposure visits for 2025 – 27.
• NCVET approved the creation of a dedicated research division to strengthen evidence-based regulation, labour market analysis, and future skills planning within India’s vocational education ecosystem.
• SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant held the Executive Director (Works) Trophy Skill Competition 2025-26 awards ceremony, recognising non-executive employees and reinforcing a culture of continuous skill development.
• On National Fish Farmers Day, the Centre released a 2025-27 fisheries training calendar under PMMSY, strengthening skills, capacity building and aquaculture value chains nationwide.
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh laid the foundation for the SAMARTH National Skill Development Centre and inaugurated the iDeaNA-BRIC-CDFD Technology Incubator in Hyderabad.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s India visit is expected to boost India-EU FTA talks, defence cooperation, and collaboration in skills, mobility, education, research and technology.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office concluded “Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan”, a skilling initiative developed with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity. It showcases Indian social-impact startups through student-created animated films supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat.

State-led skilling and institutional reforms

• The Delhi government has begun upgrading ITIs under the PM-SETU hub-and-spoke model, partnering with industry to introduce advanced courses like AI, robotics, and renewable energy.
• The Uttar Pradesh government launched the ‘Kaushal Disha’ portal to offer free online skilling, assessments, and certifications across 100 job roles, bridging urban–rural and social divides.
• The Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission launched a state-level skills competition with over 1,650 participants across 20 disciplines, serving as a qualifier for the India Skills Competition 2026.
• Arunachal Pradesh selected three candidates in floristry, cooking, and restaurant service to represent the state at the regional skills competition in Guwahati.
• A Himachal Pradesh delegation visited Telangana to explore collaboration in education and skilling, discussing vocational training, AI courses, and sharing best practices between the two states.
• Punjab organised a Defence Skills Conclave to align state capabilities with national defence needs and position Punjab as a major hub for defence manufacturing and skilling.
• The Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department organised its first PM-NAPS awareness and mobilisation drive at ITI Roing, encouraging trainees and unemployed youth to leverage apprenticeship schemes for better employability.
• NSIC and Assam’s AMTRON signed an MoU to promote Industry 4.0, startups, women entrepreneurs and MSMEs through advanced skilling and training initiatives across the Northeast.
• Haryana government school students are turning classrooms into startup labs, showcasing self-built business ideas at the Yuva Startup Mahotsav under the Kushal Business Challenge.

Industry-Led collaborations driving workforce readiness

• FICCI FLO Hyderabad celebrated the graduation of nearly 1,000 women from its Skill Her programme, which enables grassroots livelihoods through training in tailoring, embroidery, beauty, and mehendi.
• The University of Madras partnered with Samsung to train 5,000 students in AI, IoT, big data and coding through the Samsung Innovation Campus programme.
• Infineon Technologies signed an MoU with NIELIT to develop semiconductor skilling programmes in assembly, testing, and packaging during the India-Germany bilateral engagement.
• Samsung certified 1,750 students in Uttar Pradesh under its Innovation Campus programme, raising the state’s total to 3,900 and advancing future-tech skilling for youth.
• Women apprentices in India rose 58% between 2021-22 and 2023-24, highlighting how structured apprenticeship programmes are boosting female workforce participation, a report released by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship in collaboration with GAN Global and the Indian Employer Forum.

CSR initiatives in skilling and education

• South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) signed an MoU with Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust to set up a ₹35 crore healthcare skill development centre in Nava Raipur under CSR.
• Jubilant Bhartia Foundation’s JFARM skilling initiative completed three years, training over 5,000 youth with industry-ready skills for employment in India’s QSR sector.

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

• IIT Hyderabad inaugurated the CoDE Studio to promote design-led innovation for MSMEs and startups, strengthening industry collaboration and product development through advanced design facilities.
• IITM Pravartak opened admissions for the second batch of its seven-month Advanced Certificate in Applied AI and Deep Learning for working professionals.
• FDDI marked its Foundation Day with an Industry Conclave, unveiled Vision 2030, and launched the curtain raiser for its “40 Years of Excellence” celebrations.
• Medhavi Skills University signed an MoU with NephroPlus to launch industry-aligned dialysis technology programmes, bridging healthcare education with real-world skill and workforce needs.

*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.