New era of skilling: Govt boosts AI, green jobs, and global cooperation under Skill India Mission

India’s skilling landscape took a major step forward with the launch of several forward-looking initiatives at a national event marking 10 years of the Skill India Mission.

Organized at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the event outlined the government’s plans to equip youth for careers in high-growth areas such as AI, semiconductors, and green technologies, while deepening industry and international partnerships.

“In the next six months, India’s school-going population could make a powerful global statement that we are home to the world’s largest network of young learners who are not just being introduced to AI but actively using and applying it. This is the future we are building: bold, tech-savvy, and ready to lead,” said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State for Education.

He emphasized that the Skill India journey had helped transform skilling from a backup option into a central pillar of the nation’s growth strategy.

“The Skill India journey has shown us that skilling is not a fallback; it is the foundation. Whether it’s veterans retraining, rural women discovering entrepreneurship, or young students embracing AI, every story reaffirms that India’s future lies in recognizing talent, restoring dignity to work, and creating opportunity through skill,” he added.

Among the key announcements was SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness), a nationwide program to introduce AI education to students in classes 6 to 12 and equip teachers with foundational skills in the technology.

SOAR will include three 15-hour modules for students, AI to be Aware, AI to Acquire, and AI to Aspire, and a dedicated 45-hour module for educators.

Operational frameworks and platforms were also rolled out, including the IndiaSkills 2025–2026 registration portal, the Kaushal Verse Digital Enterprise Portal developed by NCVET, revised guidelines for assessment agencies and awarding bodies, and a revamped Apprenticeship Training Portal aimed at simplifying the engagement process for stakeholders.

The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & IT, Shri Jitin Prasada, underlined how skilling had become central to India’s broader development narrative.

“As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Skill India Mission, it is clear that skilling is not just a priority; it is the remote that holds the key to India’s transformation,” he said.

“From integrating AI education at the school level through SOAR to ensuring our youth are job-ready or enterprise-ready, we are investing in skills that change lives,” he added.

Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education, highlighted the synergy between education reforms and skilling.

“Today, we are celebrating a powerful shift in India’s educational philosophy, where skills and knowledge go hand in hand, where every form of learning counts, and where every learner is empowered to thrive,” he said.

He credited the National Education Policy 2020 with bringing vocational learning into the mainstream and providing true mobility and choice to students.

The event saw the signing of several MoUs, reinforcing the government’s focus on collaboration. A major MoU was signed with the Government of France, deepening Indo-French cooperation in vocational education and training.

“Today’s MoU is not merely a document; it is a bridge between two nations committed to empowering youth, building resilient economies, and promoting social mobility through skill-based learning,” said HE Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France.

Other MoUs signed included:

• NSTI Bangalore and SLN Technology for a semiconductor technician program
• NSTI Mumbai and ICICI Foundation to promote rural incubation
• RDSDEs and industry-academic partners such as Dixon Technologies, Microsoft, HCL, Apollo MedSkills, IIT Patna, IIIT Una, RRU Gandhi Nagar, IIT Hyderabad, and NIT Agartala under PMKVY 4.0

Each of these partnerships is aimed at delivering job-ready training in sectors ranging from AI and green hydrogen to automotive IoT and bamboo-based crafts.

Real-life impact stories were also shared by candidates from schemes like NAPS, NIESBUD, JSS, PM Vishwakarma, Skill Impact Bond, and IIE, followed by awards given to outstanding performers and six top-performing ITIs.

The Skill Impact Bond, India’s first and the world’s largest outcome-based bond for skilling, was officially introduced. It has mobilized $14.4 million and focuses on employment-linked results.

NCVET launched its KaushalVerse digital portal to improve transparency and efficiency in regulatory processes. It also released updated guidelines for assessment agencies and awarding bodies to align with NEP 2020 and the National Credit Framework.

Among the publications released were the India Semiconductor Workforce Strategy, a Decentralized Planning Book under SANKALP, and the Employability Skills Handbook developed with 1M1B for JSS learners.

The 60-hour handbook is aimed at helping non-literates, school dropouts, and neo-literates gain core workplace skills.

A significant digital upgrade to the Apprenticeship Training Portal was also launched, featuring a more intuitive user interface and experience for trainees, employers, and training institutions.

Senior government officials, MPs, industry leaders, educators, and beneficiaries attended the celebration, marking a decade of Skill India and setting the stage for a future-ready, empowered workforce.