The initiative equips beneficiaries with industry-relevant skills for employment in manufacturing, plastics, and allied sectors, supporting sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic development. Aligned with the Skill India Mission and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, SECL’s effort reflects its commitment to inclusive growth and long-term community development in mining-affected areas.

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Bengaluru, July 15, 2025: On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Government of India, launched the week-long celebration of 10-year milestone of the Skill India Mission. Describing the journey as ‘Kaushal ka Dashak’, the Minister reflected on the transformative impact of the Mission and outlined the government’s roadmap for the future of skilling in India. Over the decade, through concerted efforts across skilling, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, global mobility and traditional trades, MSDE has empowered more than 6 crore Indians to build a brighter future for themselves and for the country.

Shri Chaudhary highlighted how the Skill India Mission has turned India’s youth into a force of transformation, both at home and abroad. “Indian workers are known the world over for their hard work and discipline. The Prime Minister recognised this latent potential and gave it national direction through Skill India Mission. Today, it has become a powerful identity of New India,” he said.

He reflected on how skilling, which was earlier scattered across ministries, was unified under a single, coordinated effort that brought together government departments, the private sector, and civil society. “We adopted a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ensure convergence, quality, and scale,” he added.

Over the past decade, schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have trained over 1.64 crore youth, while more than 14,500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have been supported through reforms in quality, governance, and affiliation norms. Minister Chaudhary emphasized the need to enhance employability through trust, verifiability, and industry participation.

“Just as the National Education Policy (NEP) has been a game changer for the education sector, the upcoming National Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Policy will be equally transformative for India’s workforce. It will redefine the way we skill, upskill, and reskill our people—preparing them to thrive and lead in an increasingly dynamic global economy,” talking about the impending skill policy, Hon’ble Minister said.

He also spoke about the ₹60,000 crore ITI Revamp Scheme approved by the Cabinet, which will include ₹10,000 crore from CSR contributions. “We want to move beyond funding – we want the industry to shape the curriculum, certification, and training standards. This is how we create employable youth and make ITIs future-ready,” he said.

Shri Chaudhary also detailed the Ministry’s bold reform measures in ITIs, which include the de-affiliation of 4.5 lakh vacant seats over the last six years and ongoing action on 99,000 more seats that have remained unutilised. “In 2024, our ITI admission rate increased by 11%, showing that trust is returning to the system. We are committed to quality — not just numbers,” he affirmed.

The Hon’ble Minister also mentioned the 38th meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) which was held on 26th May 2025, key reforms were proposed to further strengthen and simplify the implementation of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). A significant step includes the proposal to increase the stipend support by 36%, enhancing the attractiveness of apprenticeships for youth and incentivizing greater industry participation. In a focused effort to improve apprenticeship engagement in the North Eastern Region (NER), the Ministry has also launched a special pilot scheme providing an additional ₹1,500 per month to NER-domiciled candidates undergoing apprenticeship training within or outside the region. These measures reflect the Government’s commitment to expanding apprenticeship as a mainstream pathway to employment and skilling, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and regional equity.

“India’s youth are our greatest strength. As we march towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is their skill, spirit, and innovation that will shape our collective destiny,” he said, extending his congratulations to every learner, trainer, and stakeholder who has been part of this journey.

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The partnership on AI assistant aims to streamline information access, improve learning outcomes, and provide students with seamless support through an intuitive digital interface. The 5 CoEs will also provide realistic simulations, improve engagement, and increase accessibility to skill development training.

Commenting on the partnership, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said, “Our mission at the Ministry is to empower India’s youth with the skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. By integrating technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality and mixed reality into the Skill India ecosystem, we are democratizing access to cutting-edge technologies enabling personalized learning pathways for the youth of the country. Our partnership with Meta today is a significant step towards achieving this goal.”

Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy, Meta India, said, “At Meta, we are committed to leveraging frontier technologies like AI, VR and MR to create meaningful impact for the economic development of India. These partnerships with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MDSE) are a testament to our commitment to bridging the gap between technology and education. Through the integration of advanced technologies like Open-Source Llama we aim to empower not just the students, but also educators and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital-first world.”

The Skill India Digital Portal has become a cornerstone of the nation’s skilling ecosystem, with millions of students accessing courses aimed at improving their employability. With the launch of the AI chatbot, MSDE and Meta are taking a significant step forward in revolutionizing how students interact with course content and prepare for the future.

Sarvam AI, the technical partner for the AI assistant project, will be responsible for the development and deployment of the chatbot, which will be piloted over a six-month period. The chatbot, which will be integrated into the SID Portal, offers 24/7 assistance to users, enabling quick discovery of course information, interactive Q&A for course content, and access to lecture summaries and relevant videos for revision.

Available over WhatsApp, the chatbot will support English, Hindi, and Hinglish, along with voice capabilities, making it more accessible to a diverse range of users across India. In addition, users can search for specific course topics, find skilling centers, explore job listings based on location and interest, and receive tailored feedback for continuous improvement. The chatbot will also provide valuable analytics to the MSDE to further optimize the platform.

Further, Skillveri, the technical partner for establishing the CoEs, will provide cutting-edge VR and MR resources, curriculum, and trained professionals to equip learners and instructors with the latest technology, enabling immersive and interactive learning experiences.

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