Weekly Newsbytes from NSN on Skill Development and Education – 5th August 2025

This week’s NSN Newsbytes showcase key developments in India’s skilling and education landscape, reflecting a strong push towards future-readiness and inclusive growth. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) continues to lead with initiatives like the ITI Upgradation Scheme, launch of IndiaSkills 2025, and approval of green tech courses across Maharashtra.

In line with NEP 2020, states are updating curricula, and NCERT has launched a vocational textbook for Class 8 to promote hands-on learning. CSR initiatives by Adani Foundation, Johnson Matthey, NTPC, and others are empowering women and underprivileged youth with job-ready skills.

Academic collaborations, such as UST with BITS Pilani and upEducators with Google, are strengthening AI, robotics, and digital skills across schools and colleges. These multi-sector efforts highlight India’s growing commitment to skilling its youth and bridging the education-employment gap.

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

IndiaSkills 2025: Registration Now Open for India’s Biggest Skill Competition

The search for India’s most talented youth in vocational education and skill development has officially begun. Registrations for IndiaSkills Competition 2025, the country’s largest skill-based competition, are now open. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), this biennial event serves as a prestigious platform to identify, nurture, and celebrate the skills of India’s youth.

This edition of the competition covers 63 skill categories, ranging from traditional trades to advanced technologies. Youth from all 36 States and Union Territories are eligible to participate by registering through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)portal. The last date for registration is 30th September 2025.

For more details and to register, click here!

Skill development updates from the government

• NCERT launches a new Class 8 vocational textbook aligning with NEP 2020, offering hands-on learning in carpentry, automation, hydroponics, and more.
• PHDCCI, with the Ministry of Textiles support, held a one-day Technical Textiles Conference under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) in Ludhiana.
• MSDE held a workshop with UTs on the ITI Upgradation Scheme, aiming to modernise 1,000 ITIs with global funding and industry collaboration.
• UP CM Shri Yogi Adityanath inaugurates India’s first private AI-driven multidisciplinary university in Unnao, boosting youth empowerment and industry collaboration.
• Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the MSDE, approves Solar Technician and EV Mechanic courses in 70 Maharashtra ITIs to boost green tech skills and job readiness.
• Andhra Pradesh signs MoU with YouTube, Tesseract to launch Creator Academy, boosting digital skills and creator economy in the state.
• Maharashtra drafts new Std III–X curriculum adding Vocational Learning, Traffic Safety, and Civil Defence subjects aligned with NEP 2020.
• UP ITI admissions reach 52.25% occupancy; third phase begins July 31 with 25,000 seats, private ITI fees unchanged.
• Women lead India’s first outcome-based skilling drive under Skill Impact Bond, training 23,700+ youth with 72% women participation.
• Delhi Education Minister Shri Ashish Sood attends vocational placement drive; 30+ companies offer jobs to government school students.
• The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, conducted under the Ministry of Education, reveals that only 47% of Indian schools offer skill-based education; just 29% Grade 9 students are enrolled.
• A German delegation is visiting Uttarakhand to explore Indo-German partnerships for youth skill development and workforce mobility opportunities in Germany.
• Union Minister of MSDE, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the first Skill India Centre (SIC) of the country in Sambalpur, Odisha, aiming to empower 1,200 students with new-age skills.
• To boost women’s participation in skill development, PMKVY 4.0 offers special support, prioritizes women-focused projects, and promotes training in sectors like healthcare, retail, beauty, and apparel aligned with local job demands.
• NEP 2020 completes 5 years, marking a transformative shift in Indian education with a focus on literacy, multilingualism, research, and holistic learning.
• East Siang DC Sonalika Jiwani urges structured reintegration of recovering youth through skills, counselling, and support at NCORD anti-drug meet.
• Employability Skills like Communication, ICT, and Entrepreneurship made mandatory under Samagra Shiksha Scheme to enhance student readiness.
• Under PMKVY 4.0, 4.09 lakh youth trained in 98 future skills job roles like AI, ML, and Digital Marketing.
• MSDE sets up Skill India International Centres to boost fair, transparent overseas employment and skilled workforce mobility from India.
• Under NAPS, 4,207 apprentices trained in AI and Robotics across eight trades, among 750+ optional and 266 designated trades.

Skill development updates on CSR and Industry

• The India Today Media Institute (ITMI) and Galgotias University launch AI and Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) programmes to upskill students and professionals for the evolving digital media landscape.
• Standard Chartered partners with Sambhav Foundation to skill 5,160 youth in EV, AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics under the Futuremakers initiative.
• Avanse Financial Services (Avanse) partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide funding and digital learning access, making tech education affordable and accessible to students across India.
• The Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) appoints Lt Gen Kulbhushan Hanumant Gawas (Retd.), PVSM, VSM, as the new CEO to lead telecom skill development initiatives.
• EY GDS and LLF launch Green Skills Centre in Bengaluru to train 1,200 underserved students in sustainability and emerging technologies.
• Pearson and HCLTech partner to co-develop AI-powered learning solutions, advancing workforce readiness and closing global skills gaps.
• SAIL-RSP, under CSR, launches bamboo craft training for rural women in Lindra village with NGO Nirmaan to promote livelihoods.
• NTPC Farakka, under CSR, partners with CIPET Bhubaneswar for a six-month Multi Skill Training Programme to boost youth employability.

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

• Amity University, with IN-SPACe and ISRO, launched a short-term course on space technology in agriculture from July 27 to August 1.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) and the Retailers Association Skill Council of India (RASCI) host a Job Mela in Telangana to promote the Stipend-Based Apprenticeship Program, linking education with employment opportunities.
• UST partners with BITS Pilani to drive innovation through joint research in AI, Quantum Computing, Robotics, and MedTech, fostering academia-industry collaboration for real-world solutions and product development.
• upEducators partners with Google to upskill 10,000+ teachers in AI literacy, promoting tech-enabled education across Indian schools and colleges.
• Skilling integrated in 24,560 schools nationwide, enrolling 31.9 lakh students under an approved plan covering 29,342 schools across India.

 *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.