Weekly Newsbytes on skills and education

This week Newsbytes from NSN, we bring you inspiring updates from across India from governments boosting flagship skill schemes and global mobility, industries establishing future-ready training centres, and CSR initiatives empowering women, youth, and rural communities. Academia is also stepping up, integrating skill-based learning with mainstream education, while innovative partnerships are aligning education with industry needs.

Let’s dive into the highlights and explore how these impactful efforts are shaping the next generation of skilled professionals across India.

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

This week’s highlights in skill education

The Union Government, through NSDC and MSDE, is enhancing global mobility for Indian workers via MoUs with seven countries, training over 23,000 candidates for international opportunities while ensuring skill development and labour rights.
The Union Government disbursed ₹4,906.32 crore under PMKVY, ₹666.33 crore under JSS, and ₹1,238.48 crore under NAPS in the last five years to boost skill training under the Skill India Mission.
NCVET has granted Awarding Body (Dual) recognition to Tata Power, The Institution of Engineers (India), and the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) to assess, certify, and award NSQF-aligned qualifications.
Nasscom Foundation, with HDFC Bank Parivartan, celebrated the skilling of 1,600+ youth in BFSI and Data Analytics in Noida to boost employability and sustainable livelihoods.
NSDC and WRI India signed an MoU to boost green skill development by reskilling and upskilling individuals for sustainable jobs in key sectors.

Skill development updates from the government

The Chhattisgarh government has signed an MoU with Nasscom to boost development and create employment through industry-aligned skill development initiatives.
The Delhi government has signed an MoU with the Centre to skill Sikh youth, allocating ₹100 crore for enhancing their employment opportunities, offering training across various fields.
NCVET recognises IITs, NITs, IIMs, and Central Universities as Deemed Awarding Bodies to integrate skilling with general education under NEP 2020.
The government of Uttar Pradesh is enhancing support for over 11 lakh Divyangjans through skill-based training, education, employment schemes, and awareness programmes.
The government of Arunachal Pradesh reaffirmed the state’s skilling commitment as 25 out of 30 trainees from a food & beverage training program in Itanagar received job offers under a joint initiative with Honda India Foundation and Visan Foundation.
Under the Uttar Pradesh government’s SANKALP Project, nearly 63,000 students have been trained in various skills over the past eight years, aiming to empower youth and enhance their employability.
The Sikkim Skill Development Department held a valedictory function for its Organic Grower training under the SANKALP Scheme in Dentam, highlighting sustainable farming and entrepreneurship through hands-on learning.
The government of Rajasthan inaugurated the Rojgar Utsav Avam Yuva Sammelan, distributing 7,800 job letters and launching key youth and skill initiatives, including the Mukhya Mantri Shikshit Rajasthan Abhiyan.
The government of Himachal Pradesh will set up a University of Vocational Education and Skill Development near Ghumarwin, Bilaspur with over ₹500 crore investment to boost youth employability through job-oriented and entrepreneurial training.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs aims to establish 440 Eklavya Model Residential Schools to provide quality education to tribal children, with 288 existing schools being upgraded under the new model.

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Skill development updates on CSR, Industry

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Krishi Vigyan Kendra Peren and ICAR Nagaland Centre conducted a five-day training on fruit and vegetable processing for FPOs to promote agri-entrepreneurship and value addition.
The Confederation of Indian Industry announced to establish a skill development centre at Aurangabad Industrial City in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to make youth employable aligned with industry needs.
ESSCI showcased its skilling initiatives at India Soft & Electronics Expo 2025, joining 1,500+ exhibitors and 400 global delegates to highlight India’s tech leadership.
Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council conducted a workshop on DBT and NAPS, sharing strategies to boost apprenticeship engagement and industry-driven skill development in the hospitality sector.
Internship postings in India have surged by 103% between February 2022 and February 2025, according to a recent report by global hiring platform Indeed.
Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) and NSDC International have signed an MoU to provide specialised skill training for nursing students to secure overseas employment in countries like Germany, the UK, and Canada.
Hindustan Zinc celebrated women empowerment through its Sakhi Utsav CSR initiative, engaging over 1,000 women in sports, dance, and community activities.
Nasscom Foundation and HSBC India have launched a program to digitally and financially upskill 4,000 rural women entrepreneurs across five states, boosting their participation in the digital economy.

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

ITI Tura, Meghalaya, launched a 15-day executive training course on electrical and electronic appliance repair for 50 trainees from Garo Hills, supported by DCIC to boost technical skills.
The 17th National Education Leadership and Skill Development Conference 2025 by ASSOCHAM emphasized aligning higher education with Industry 4.0 through AI-driven learning, hands-on projects, and industry collaborations.
Madhya Pradesh’s School Education Department has launched career counselling for Classes 9–12, linking students who couldn’t clear exams to vocational education through ITI and skill schemes under the ‘Haar Ke Aage Jeet’ programme.
The government of Punjab inaugurated the World Skill Campus of Excellence and upgraded ITI Ludhiana, revamped with Padma Shri Vikramjit Sahney’s support, offering 37 industry-aligned courses and free NSDC-accredited training in emerging sectors.
India has added 1,167 training centers/institutes and 926 ITIs/NSTIs along with centers affiliated with NIESBUD to facilitate renewable energy skilling and training.
India’s first international university for the blind is set to be established near Baranga, Cuttack, offering general and vocational education, with plans to name it after poet Bhima Bhoi.
North East Christian University (NECU) held a one-day entrepreneurship awareness programme, offering hands-on training in food processing, soap making, metal & woodwork, and waste management under NEP 2020.
CBSE will revamp its vocational and skill-based curriculum by 2026-27 to align education with industry needs and make skill training a core component.
ITIs in Roing and Balinong are being transformed into green hubs with the plantation of Burmese grape and Jujube saplings, led by Skill Development Director Sibo Passing.
The Kerala State Higher Education Council held a one-day workshop to recommend revisions to the PG curriculum across universities, aiming to revamp higher education with a focus on skill development.