NCVET forms research advisory panel to strengthen India’s skilling ecosystem

The National Council for Vocational Education and Training has initiated plans to strengthen research-based policymaking in India’s skilling sector with the first meeting of its newly constituted Research Advisory Committee.

NCVET, which functions under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, regulates vocational education and training across the country by setting standards, overseeing assessment agencies, and aligning skill programs with industry requirements and employment trends.

According to the ministry, the newly formed committee will help establish a dedicated Research Division within NCVET to serve as a national knowledge and research center for vocational education, labor market analysis, regulatory reforms, assessment systems, and quality assurance.

The inaugural meeting of the Research Advisory Committee was chaired in New Delhi by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Chairperson of NCVET.

Representatives from government institutions, industry bodies, research organizations, and academic institutions participated in the discussions.

These included officials and experts from NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Directorate General of Training, Confederation of Indian Industry, IIM Calcutta, NCAER, TISS, Ashoka University, NIEPA, and Young Lives India.

During the meeting, members identified key research priorities for the vocational education and training ecosystem over the short, medium, and long term.

The discussions focused on areas such as skill gap assessment, labor market trends, emerging technologies, regulatory improvements, and stronger coordination among institutions involved in the skilling ecosystem.

The committee also highlighted the need for closer institutional collaboration and greater involvement of states in vocational education research and policy development.

Officials further emphasized the importance of developing frameworks to study future workforce demands and incorporating youth perspectives into skill development planning.

According to the ministry, the committee will hold quarterly meetings to assess progress and determine future priorities for the sector.

The proposed Research Division is expected to support evidence-based decision-making and strengthen long-term planning within India’s vocational education framework.

The plan to create the division was approved in principle during the 12th NCVET Council meeting in January 2026 and later ratified by the council’s General Body.

The ministry said the initiative is aimed at improving the credibility, responsiveness, and overall quality of India’s vocational education and training system through institutionalized research and data-driven governance.