National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC), Government of Tamil Nadu, organized a Capacity Building and Awareness Workshop for Southern States and Union Territories on 24 September 2025 in Chennai.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep, including senior government officials, industry leaders, academia, and skilling organizations, to deliberate on strengthening the Vocational Education and Training (VET) ecosystem. The focus was on quality assurance, convergence of efforts, and the integration of future-ready skills in the skilling landscape.

 

A special video message was delivered by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE and MoS for Ministry of Education, Government of India. He commended NCVET for spearheading these regional workshops and emphasized the importance of skill development as a cornerstone of India’s growth strategy. The Minister highlighted recent reforms, including the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and the new guidelines on recognition of Awarding Bodies and Assessment Agencies, which are crucial to strengthening the skilling ecosystem.

He also drew attention to key government initiatives such as PMKVY 4.0, NAPS, the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), and the recently launched Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR), which has already seen over 70,000 enrolments. These initiatives, he noted, represent a bold step towards building a learner-centric, demand-driven, and future-oriented skilling framework, aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.

 

In her opening address, Dr. Vinita Aggarwal, Executive Member, NCVET, stressed the need for collaborative efforts among the regulator, states, and industry partners to create a robust and responsive vocational education ecosystem. She emphasized the urgency of mainstreaming VET into both school and higher education systems, while reinforcing quality benchmarks for awarding and assessment bodies.

Dr. Neena Pahuja, Executive Member, NCVET, presented a comprehensive overview on the integration of emerging technologies and future skills, especially in AI and digital domains. She called for embedding these skill sets into training programs to ensure the youth are adequately prepared for global job markets and evolving industry demands.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri K. Veera Raghava Rao, Secretary, Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, reiterated the state's commitment to driving innovation and inclusivity in vocational training. He welcomed greater collaboration with NCVET to align state priorities with national reforms.

This was further echoed by Shri Kranthi Kumar Pati, Managing Director, TNSDC, who detailed Tamil Nadu’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between industry needs and training delivery through effective policy implementation and capacity building.

A dedicated session on the role of NCVET in India’s skilling ecosystem was delivered by Col. Gunjan Chowdhary, Director, NCVET. He highlighted NCVET’s pivotal functions in standardization, quality assurance, recognition of qualifications, and strengthening of institutions involved in VET delivery.

Shri Naveen Kumar, Joint Director, MSDE, highlighted the Ministry’s key schemes, programs, and initiatives, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to converging skilling efforts to minimize duplication and optimize resource use. He stressed the importance of aligning central and state-level programs, integrating schemes across ministries, and creating a cohesive ecosystem that connects training, certification, and employability.

Representatives from States of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Puducherry shared insights into their state-level skilling initiatives, innovations, and challenges.

Experts from NCVET, MSDE and Digital India Corporation (DIC)/ NeGD, MietY discussed processes for onboarding Awarding Bodies, the Academic Bank of Credits, convergence strategies of various Skill India Programs, and integration with the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) platform.

HCL and NTTF shared best practices and expectations from the skilled workforce. ASAP Kerala showcased its innovative skilling models.

An expert panel from higher and school education had a robust dialogue on embedding skills within mainstream education frameworks.

The Chennai workshop forms part of NCVET’s national series of zonal capacity-building and awareness programs, aimed at empowering states, institutions, and awarding bodies to enhance the quality, relevance, and integration of vocational education in India.

These efforts align with NCVET’s broader mission to create a transparent, equitable, and unified skilling ecosystem that is responsive to the needs of learners, industry, and the economy.

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