Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses students at the second ‘Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh’

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the students live during the second annual ‘Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh’ – a Skill Convocation Ceremony organized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on 12th October.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, graced the event. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri K Sanjay Murthy; Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari; Chairman, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Shri Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi; Chairman, AICTE, Prof. T. G. Sitharam; Chairman, UGC, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar; other officials, dignitaries and students were also present on the occasion .

During the ‘Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh,’ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi praised the event’s significance in uniting skill development institutions across the nation. He emphasized the power of youth in harnessing a country’s strengths, emphasizing India’s two-pronged approach of empowering youth through skilling and education, including initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The Prime Minister also highlighted the growth in traditional and emerging sectors, like goods exports, mobile exports, startups, drones, electric vehicles, and semiconductors, creating numerous opportunities for India’s youth.

“Today, the whole world is of the belief that this century is going to be India’s century”, the Prime Minister said as he credited the young population of India. Shri Narendra Modi underlined that when the older people’s population is increasing in many countries of the world, India is getting younger with each passing day. “India has this huge advantage”, he stressed as he noted the world looking towards India for its skilled youth. He informed that India’s proposal regarding global skill mapping has been recently accepted at the G20 Summit, which will help in creating better opportunities for youth in the coming times. The Prime Minister suggested not wasting any opportunity being created and assured that the Government is ready to support the cause. Shri Narendra Modi pointed out the neglect towards skill development in the previous governments and said, “Our government understood the importance of skill and created a separate Ministry for it and allocated a separate budget.”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi stressed India’s increased investment in youth skills, highlighting the success of PMKVY, which has trained about 1.5 crore youth. He mentioned the establishment of new skill centers near industrial clusters to align industry needs with youth skill development for improved employment opportunities.

Emphasizing the significance of skill development, the Prime Minister highlighted the need to adapt skills to evolving job demands. He stressed the importance of industry, research, and skill development institutions staying current. In the last 9 years, India has established about 5,000 new ITIs, adding over 4 lakh new ITI seats. Efforts are also underway to upgrade institutes to model ITIs to provide efficient, high-quality training with best practices.

“The scope of skill development is continuously increasing in India. We are not limited to just mechanics, engineers, technology, or any other service”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned that women’s self-help groups are being prepared for drone technology. Stressing the importance of Vishwakarmas in our everyday life, Shri Narendra Modi mentioned PM Vishwakarma Yojana which enables the Vishwakarmas to link their traditional skills with modern technology and tools.

Prime Minister highlighted India’s expanding economy, citing record-low unemployment rates over the past six years, with reduced joblessness in both rural and urban areas. He also commended the increased participation of women in the workforce due to women empowerment initiatives. The Prime Minister referred to the International Monetary Fund’s projections, affirming India’s status as the fastest-growing major economy and his aspiration for India to become one of the world’s top three economies in the next 3-4 years, creating new opportunities for employment and self-employment. In conclusion, he emphasized making India a global hub for skilled manpower, promoting continuous learning and progress.

During the convocation, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan announced the launch of PM Vishwakarma Yojana on September 17, 2023, benefiting 30 lakh traditional craftsmen through skill enhancement. He celebrated 10,60,000 trainees receiving certificates, contributing to India’s skilled workforce, and thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for empowering the youth, including individuals with disabilities, through Skill India. He highlighted the integration of skill training into the education system from Class VI onward, as per NEP 2020, and the upcoming availability of teaching materials for various classes. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized the integration of emerging areas like semiconductors into the curriculum and the distribution of drones for precision agriculture. India aims to lead in global skilled human resource supply, with nearly 4 crore youth registered on the Skill India Digital Portal. The inclusion of women in the skill ecosystem has increased, thanks to developmental schemes, and India’s unemployment rate has dropped from 6% in 2017 to 3.2% in 2022-23, with 1.5 crore citizens joining the skilling ecosystem during this period.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in his address, congratulated the recipients of the certificates and marked it be one of the most inspiring and energizing days. He expressed gratitude for shaping the future of India’s youth and highlighted the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ for every youth, irrespective of their economic status. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized the transformative impact of Skill India, noting the substantial shift in formal training for the workforce. Acquiring these skills, he referred to as the ‘Passport to prosperity,’ holds the potential to empower India’s young population, unlike any previous time in the country’s history.

Highlights from the Event

• An Audio-Video film showcasing Skill India’s achievements was screened.
• Launch of 100 NIMI Bhasha books translated into 12 regional languages.
• Introduction of a handbook on Entrepreneurship Development.
• Recognition and felicitation of All India toppers and high achievers in various skill initiatives.
• Special recognition for female candidates breaking into traditionally male-dominated job roles.
• Successful results of the Directorate General of Training (DGT) exams for 2022-23 academic session with an 88.07% pass rate.
• Impressive 92.02% pass rate in the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) final exams across the country.

The Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh aims to blend school-based and work-based learning, allowing students to exhibit their diverse skills. Students have received training in various job roles, including computer operation, UI/UX development, data science, and more. Last year, MSDE organized the inaugural convocation ceremony under the Prime Minister’s guidance. This year’s ceremony aims to foster pride, respect, and a sense of unity among all students in the skill ecosystem, showcasing their dedication and inspiring a strong bond among them.