The government and various skill development stakeholders are stepping up in exciting ways! From Maharashtra’s Global Skill Center to Kerala’s new skill training centers in colleges, states are pushing forward with innovative skill development initiatives. Uttar Pradesh is set to roll out Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP), while Andhra Pradesh launches the LEAP model to revamp education with AI-driven assessments.

In this week’s Newsbytes from NSN, we bring you the latest on transformative government policies, industry-led skilling initiatives, and key updates from NEP 2020, UGC, and NCVET. Discover how these developments are revolutionizing education and shaping the future workforce in India.

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

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Skill development updates from the government

• Uttar Pradesh will roll out Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP) in universities and colleges from the 2025–26 academic session, aligning with UGC and NEP 2020 guidelines.
• MSDE felicitated top 10 student-led startups at the Futurepreneurs Challenge Grand Finale during Startup Mahakumbh 2025, applauding their innovative contributions to India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• During the fourth online ‘Candidate Open House,’ PM Internship Scheme interns shared their experiences, with ONGC’s Anil Bahuguna highlighting how internships foster core skills and personality development.
• Arunachal Pradesh’s Skill Development Department has partnered with Wadhwani Skill Network to equip ITI trainees with 21st Century Employability Skills through a strategic MoU.
• The government of Kerala has granted agencies like IHRD, ASAP, Keltron, and LBS to set up skill training centers within colleges as part of four-year degree programs, making skill training more accessible and affordable.
• MSDE and the World Economic Forum held a high-level roundtable in New Delhi to deliberate on the “India Skills Accelerator” initiative, a public-private platform to drive innovation, awareness, and systemic reforms in India’s skilling ecosystem.
• Andhra Pradesh has launched the LEAP (Learning Excellence in Andhra Pradesh) model to revamp education through play-based curriculum, pedagogy training, and AI-driven FLN assessments.
• The government of Goa to introduce a startup and incubation cell in all govt colleges during the current academic year of 2025-26 to develop entrepreneurship qualities in students.
• The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government to establish the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) in Mumbai, focused on the AVGC-XR sector.
• Maharashtra is set to establish a Global Skill Center modeled on Singapore’s framework, following discussions between Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Singapore’s Consul General Ong Ming Fung.
• The government of Rajasthan held a discussion to introduce skill-based courses in colleges to make the youth more employable.
• MSDE visited Kerala Startup Mission to explore innovation-skilling synergies and encouraged PMKVY 4.0 alignment with emerging startup needs.
• The Jharkhand government will introduce four new vocational trades such as handicrafts and carpets, telecom, logistics, and food processing in schools from the 2025-26 academic session to enhance market-relevant skills.

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Skill development updates on CSR, Industry

• VAMNICOM Pune and Syngenta Foundation India have partnered to launch the “Bharat-Banker” program, aiming to empower rural youth and strengthen India’s cooperative banking system.
• In a bid to accelerate growth of green jobs and promote sustainable development, the Skill Council for Green Jobs has signed an MoU with WRI India to strengthen India’s green skilling ecosystem.
• Yudo, in collaboration with NSDC and AMTEC, has launched a 70-hour hands-on training programme on Hot Runner Systems to upskill professionals in the plastic manufacturing industry.
• A 19-member Australian Future Skills delegation visited Hyderabad to explore partnerships in skilling, green economy, and infrastructure, as part of the Australia India Skills Summit 2025.
• India faces a growing healthcare crisis due to severe shortages in doctors, nurses, and paramedics, prompting calls for urgent investment in medical education and ITI-like training for paramedical roles.
• NSDC and PDEU have launched a Centre of Excellence for Skill Development to provide hands-on training in key sectors like energy, semiconductors, health, water, and manufacturing.
• The government ITIs in Aliganj has signed an MoU with Tata Motors to train the youth in 13 skills in various trades and gain practical industry experience.
• Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) and KARAM Safety have partnered to launch specialized training in height and rescue operations, enhancing safety skills across telecom and related sectors.
• TNSDC, Edunet Foundation, and Shell India have launched the Skills4Future initiative to train over 25,000 Tamil Nadu youth in AI and cleaner technologies.
• Tata Technologies and RV College of Engineering have partnered to set up a ₹60 crore Center for Invention, Innovation, Incubation & Training (CIIIT) in Bengaluru, focusing on smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 skills.
• NSDC, Nashik Zilla Parishad, and QCI launched the ‘Sampanna Ghar Abhiyan’ to empower 1.5 lakh rural families under PMAY–Gramin by combining housing support with hands-on construction skills training.
• State Bank of India Funds Management (SBIFM) has partnered with Ambuja Foundation to establish skill training centres in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, aiming to train over 3,600 youth in essential skills over the next three years.
• Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) has expanded its CSR initiative to empower children, youth, and women through education, skill development, and social welfare programs.
• Hindustan Zinc’s Zinc Kaushal Kendra organized a job fair in Rajasthan, helping nearly 500 rural youth from Udaipur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, and Rajsamand secure jobs with over 40 companies across sectors.
• NTPC Kudgi, in collaboration with MSQ Technology, distributed sewing machines to 500 women from Project Affected Villages after they completed a skill development program in sewing and tailoring, promoting financial independence and self-reliance.

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/

Skilling and upskilling in academia and emerging technologies

• Assam Building & Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board and IIT Guwahati have signed an MoU to train 100 candidates from construction worker families in Assam through a residential AI/ML skill development program.
• K J Somaiya Private ITI and IPMMI have launched a certificate course in packaging machinery with six months of classroom training and five months of paid on-the-job training.
• Uttar Pradesh will roll out Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP) in universities and colleges from July 1, 2025, under UGC guidelines and NEP 2020 norms.
• A 10-day broom-making training under the RAMP Scheme was launched at Government Livelihood School, Mangalbaria in Sikkim, empowering locals with livelihood skills through a Commerce and Industries Department and Positron Institute initiative.
• 37 trainees from Govt. ITI Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, departed for L&T CSTI Jadcherla, Telangana, for intensive on-the-job training, marking the institute’s first out-of-state training initiative.
• Jamia Millia Islamia launched a Centre of Excellence for Professional Skill Development on April 8, while its online admission portal for UG and PG courses closes on April 10, 2025.
• CBSE schools will offer four new skill electives including design thinking, electronics hardware, physical activity training, and land transportation associate — for Class 11 from the upcoming academic session.