The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, signed an MoU for a skilling project under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad, on 8th October 2025 at Palakkad, Kerala.

The MoU signing event was graced by Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying , Shri George Kurian as  Chief Guest. The initiative aims to empower individuals from minority communities in Kerala by equipping them with future-ready technical skills in emerging domains, in alignment with the objectives of the PM VIKAS scheme.

Under this collaboration, IIT Palakkad will be the implementation partner of the Ministry to train 400 candidates with a focus on minority communities. A total of 150 trainees each will be trained as Junior Chip Designers and Embedded Software Engineers, respectively, while 100 trainees will be trained as Junior Engineers (Drone R&D).

The entire cost of training will be borne by Ministry of Minority Affairs. IIT Palakkad will serve as the implementing institution, responsible for executing the training programme. The trainees will receive a stipend during the training period and will be provided placement support for both employment and self-employment opportunities upon completion.

The event was attended by Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary (Minority Affairs); Professor A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director (IIT Palakkad); officials from the Ministry and IIT, faculty members, students, and PM VIKAS aspirants.

Minister of State, Shri George Kurian while addressing the gathering, emphasised that PM VIKAS scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India focused on the socio-economic empowerment of minority communities through skill development and entrepreneurship promotion. He highlighted that such initiatives enhance employability, foster innovation, and contribute to the creation of sustainable livelihoods.

The implementation of this project at IIT Palakkad, an Institute of National Importance known for its emphasis on technology, innovation, and incubation, is expected to significantly strengthen capacity building and skill development among minority communities in Kerala, thereby contributing to their overall socio-economic upliftment.

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