Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, announced the launch of a new skill voucher system to boost India’s skill development landscape. This initiative is set to transform 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into hub institutions, with an additional 800 ITIs serving as spoke facilities, under a hub-and-spoke model aimed at aligning vocational training more closely with industry needs.

Tiwari highlighted the government’s plan to partner with industries to modernize 1,000 ITIs across the country. While he revealed the broad framework of this initiative, he did not provide specific details on the skill voucher system, stating that more information would be disclosed soon.

The announcement also covered key changes under the National Education Policy, including the introduction of the National Credit Framework, which allows students to earn credits for vocational and skill-based education. The policy now requires up to 50% of degree course content to be skill-based, promoting a hands-on, practical approach to learning.

In addition, the curriculum for classes 6 to 12 has been revised to incorporate more application-based learning, equipping students with practical skills alongside academic knowledge. The government is also developing apprenticeship-embedded degree programs to foster collaboration between industries, academic institutions, and students.

Tiwari emphasized the importance of industry, academia, and government collaboration to scale up the country’s skilling efforts. “The government’s intent is very clear,” he stated, “to engage with the industry in various ways to ensure that our skilling initiatives align with industry requirements.” This multi-sector partnership aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, creating a workforce equipped to meet the evolving demands of the economy.