This week witnessed a wave of impactful developments across India’s skilling, education, and innovation ecosystem. From government-led initiatives that strengthen vocational and technical education to CSR collaborations that empower underprivileged youth, the focus on building a future-ready workforce continues to gain momentum. States such as Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Nagaland, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh announced new programs to enhance employability, industry linkage, and global collaboration in skill development. At the national level, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) advanced its vision for AI integration through the SOAR program, marking a decade of the Skill India Mission.
Corporate and academic partnerships also took center stage, with organisations like Apexon, Zerodha, Loom Solar, and UltraTech Cement launching skilling initiatives in sectors ranging from BFSI and wellness to renewable energy and civil engineering. Meanwhile, advancements in drone training, AI, and cybersecurity reaffirmed India’s commitment to emerging technologies and global competitiveness. Together, these milestones underscore a unified national effort across government, academia, and industry to equip India’s youth with future-ready skills and foster inclusive, sustainable growth.
Here we go with this week’s edition of our weekly newsbytes –
Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025: Driving Skills, Innovation, and Growth in Karnataka
Karnataka is set to host the inaugural Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025, a flagship platform dedicated to workforce transformation and future-ready skilling. Organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL), Government of Karnataka, the Summit aims to position the state as a global benchmark for innovation, inclusion, and employability in the skilling ecosystem.
The three-day summit will take place from 4–6 November 2025 at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru.
Register here for Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025
DIDAC India and DIDAC Skills 2025 – Asia’s Largest Exhibition and Conference for the Education and Skills Sector
Asia’s largest and India’s only Exhibition and Conference on educational resources and solutions returns with its 15th edition – Bigger, Bolder, Better, along with Didac Skills – Asia’s only Exhibition and Conference on Future of Work.
Organised by the India Didactics Association (IDA) in collaboration with Messe Stuttgart India, the event will bring together the latest educational resources, technology-based solutions, innovative products, and contemporary educational advances.
- Date: 18 – 20 November 2025
- Venue: Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre), Dwarka, New Delhi
Register now: Click here to know more and register
Skill development updates from the government
- Over 2,000 Jharkhand schools participated in the Jharkhand Skill Competition 2025, organised by JEPC under Samagra Shiksha. Block-level rounds continue, with district contests in late October and state finals in November.
- Unnati Foundation signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to provide UNXT vocational training to 75,000 students across 200 colleges and ITIs.
- The Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission (NSEDM) under the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) will conduct free one-month skill training in masonry, tiling, electrification, and plumbing at Peren in November 2025.
- Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary led a Knowledge Exchange Mission to the Philippines (Oct 20–22) to strengthen collaboration on skills development, labour mobility, and data-driven policy frameworks with key Philippine institutions.
- TGCHE launched its first English textbook, English Algorithm, to strengthen students’ communication skills under Telangana’s skill and soft skills development initiative.
- Assam announced the construction of three new Polytechnic colleges in Hajo, Majuli, and Tingkhong, costing ₹150 crore, to boost vocational and technical education.
- During his Australia visit, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Shri Nara Lokesh met Seafood Industry Australia officials to strengthen Andhra Pradesh – Australia partnerships in sustainable aquaculture and seafood trade.
- Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Shri Nara Lokesh advanced partnerships in technology, tourism, healthcare, and skills, inviting Bupa to set up a Global Capability Centre in Vizag.
- Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya visited Delhi’s CM SHRI school to explore collaboration on teacher training, vocational education, and sustainability through a proposed Delhi-Colombo Education Bridge.
- Eleven Bihar colleges will launch an Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme from 2025 – 26 to enhance employability through industry-linked, job-oriented education.
- The Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) celebrated 50 years of apprenticeship at Regional Apprenticeship Day 2025 in Kolkata, highlighting initiatives like ‘NATS on Reels’ and new skilling efforts in AI and healthcare.
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced the Tribal Business Conclave 2025, set for November 12 in New Delhi, to promote tribal entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
Skill development updates on CSR and Industry
- The MEPZ–C-DAC IT Skill Development Centre and CoE was inaugurated in Chennai to offer AI, ML, and cybersecurity training for professionals and graduates.
- TerraTern launched a ₹1 crore scholarship fund to help Indian nurses pursue global careers in countries like Germany, Australia, and Canada.
- IN-SPACe, ISRO, and ASI announced the Model Rocketry/CANSAT India Student Competition 2024 – 25 finale, featuring 71 teams competing in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
- Apexon, in partnership with The Ma Foi Foundation, launched the ‘Ahaan Vocational Centre: BFSI’ in Bengaluru to train 220 underprivileged graduates in BFSI skills.
- Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar flagged off Zerodha’s CSR-backed AYUSH Skill Development Program, training Northeast youth in wellness, communication, and financial literacy.
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
- CBSE will mandate Composite Skill Labs in all affiliated schools from the next academic year to enhance experiential and practical learning.
- Loom Solar and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya partnered to create skill-based programs aligning education with renewable energy industry needs through training and internships.
- YCCE Nagpur and UltraTech Cement inaugurated the UltraTech Center of Excellence to boost research, innovation, and employability skills in civil engineering.
- MSDE launched the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) program to integrate AI competencies into India’s education system. Coinciding with Skill India Mission’s 10th anniversary, SOAR aims to strengthen AI literacy and specialised talent across key sectors.
- DGCA approved AVPL International’s Drone Remote Pilot Training Organisation in Hisar, advancing drone training and skill development with 10 certified flying zones.
*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.
