In Rajya Sabha , the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey replying to an un-starred question of Shri Aditya Prasad today said that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, has entrusted the project “Semiconductor Fabrication & Characterization Training for Students from Tribal Community” to Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru under the Central Sector Scheme: Tribal Research Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE) during the financial year 2023-24. The project aims to deliver 2100 NSQF-certified level 6.0 & 6.5 training in semiconductor technology to tribal students over three years. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with IISc Bangalore aims to provide foundation training to 1500 tribal students and advanced training to 600 tribal students, in semiconductor technology over the next 03 years. The Foundational course is a 60-hour program with online lectures and assignments. The advanced program is 90 hours, with offline lectures, assignments, and hands-on training at the IISc Campus in Bengaluru. Faculty members from tribal communities are also eligible to attend, enabling them to introduce new courses and research in their institutions. This initiative targets to enhance the knowledge base and employability of tribal youth in India's emerging semiconductor industry.

All tribal students, including those from the State of Jharkhand, who possess a degree in one of the engineering subjects, are eligible to apply for the program. As on date, 105 tribal students (100 in Foundation training program and 5 in Advanced training program) have been trained from Jharkhand.

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru is proactively aligning this program with the Indian Semiconductor Mission to create meaningful opportunities for marginalised tribal communities. Recognising the importance of real-world exposure, efforts are being made in the direction to build collaborations with industries and startups to offer internships that enhance employability. These initiatives aim to provide participants with hands-on industry experience, equipping them with the practical skills and confidence needed to pursue successful careers after completing their education. In this line, IISc Bengaluru has maintained continuous engagement with industries such as Reliance Communications, Tata Electronics, and CDIL, and has shared candidate CVs to support placement assistance.

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(Release ID: 2153041)