Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches initiatives with 15 organizations to empower India's Yuva Shakti

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched a series of initiatives and industry partnerships for skilling and empowering India’s Yuva Shakti by signing MoUs with 15 renowned organizations, industry giants, and leading academic institutions with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on February 15, 2024.

The partnerships were announced with Flipkart, Teamlease, Infosys, IIT Guwahati & LogicKnots, TimesPro, BCG, Google, UpGrad, Unstop, Microsoft, M3M Foundation, Reliance Foundation, Yes Foundation, UPS and Digivarsity.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, said that “The partnerships forged today will lead the Skill India mission forward and lead to a more capable, productive and efficient workforce ready to embrace global opportunities.” He also said that India will become unstoppable by embracing the mantra of skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling. As India marches towards becoming a developed nation, by leveraging technology, scale and sustainability, the Indian workforce will meet not only domestic demand but also global demand, he emphasised.

The Minister also highlighted various digital initiatives within the skilling ecosystem, emphasizing accessibility, flexibility, and inclusivity. He stressed the importance of social engagement in bolstering the skills landscape and noted the mutual benefits of emerging technologies.

Industry representatives engaged in fruitful discussions exchanging insights and strategies to empower India’s youth for the future of work. These collaborations, aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a skilled India by 2047, aim to prepare the next generation for diverse career paths, particularly in IT, CSR, and technology sectors.

These partnerships resonate with the G20 framework’s objectives of enhancing learning outcomes, fostering a digital economy, and promoting public-private partnerships in education and skilling. They signify a significant step towards making the skilling ecosystem more accessible, innovative, and outcome-driven, heralding a new era of education-industry collaboration.

The students aspiring to pursue careers in these sectors will benefit from comprehensive exposure across industries, enabling them to develop versatile skills aligned with industry demands. NSDC has previously partnered with private organizations such as IBM, Bajaj Finserv, Meta, Coca-Cola, and others to strengthen the foundational capabilities of our youth.

Also read: Most recent initiatives in skills and education from MSDE and NSDC

Through facilitating on-the-job training and industry exposure, MSDE and NSDC are providing students with practical knowledge, fostering creative skills, and enriching experiences. This approach empowers youth-led development, fulfilling their aspirations and enhancing employment opportunities.