Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 June 2025
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organized the Southern Regional Workshop of Kaushal Manthan at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad, on 16th June. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and attended by Admiral D. K. Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency.
In his address, the Minister emphasized the need to move beyond rigid, uniform models in skill development, advocating instead for locally driven strategies that reflect regional economic realities and the aspirations of India’s youth. “Skill development cannot have prescriptive templates,” he noted. “We must empower States to craft solutions rooted in their local contexts.”
As part of the Ministry’s forward-looking approach, Mr. Chaudhary announced the establishment of two Centres of Excellence—at the National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad and Chennai. These centres, part of a national plan to set up five such institutions, will focus on high-quality instructor training and skilling in emerging domains.
To raise standards across Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), the Minister mandated that all newly recruited instructors obtain certification under the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS). States were urged to amend their Recruitment Rules to make CITS certification compulsory, aligning with National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) norms. The goal, he stressed, is to ensure instructional quality and parity nationwide.
Mr. Chaudhary also proposed introducing a robust grading and assessment system for State-run ITIs to foster accountability and improve outcomes. He called on States to utilize platforms like DISHA meetings to engage elected representatives and build greater awareness around the economic and social benefits of vocational training.
Key areas identified for focus included strengthening industry linkages, raising the profile of vocational education, and promoting language-based training to support international workforce mobility. Highlighting the transformative power of investing in youth, the Minister noted that while the results may take time, they yield lasting returns for individuals and for the nation.