Marking a decade of transformative impact, the 10-year celebration of the Skill India Mission—Bharat SkillNxt 2025—was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event witnessed the unveiling of forward-looking skilling initiatives, global partnerships, and a bold vision for a Viksit Bharat powered by a skilled, tech-savvy youth.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for MSDE and MoS for Education, highlighted the rise of India’s school-going population as global AI adopters through the new SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative. “This is the future we are building—bold, tech-savvy, and ready to lead,” he stated. He emphasized that skilling is the foundation, not a fallback, and recognized the critical role of initiatives like SOAR in mainstreaming AI learning from school level.
Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & IT, underlined the strategic value of skilling in India’s global ascent. “Skilling is the remote that holds the key to India’s transformation,” he said, pointing to India’s proactive integration of AI, digital productivity, and readiness for global mobility as key drivers under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education, emphasized the NEP 2020’s transformative role in merging education and skills, ensuring true choice, mobility, and opportunity across learning ecosystems. “This is about preparing youth not just for employment, but for life,” he said, calling for collective action to build Kaushal Bharat for a Vikshit Bharat.
The celebration included the launch of major skilling initiatives:
-
IndiaSkills 2025–2026 Registration Portal and Operational Guidelines
-
SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) for Classes 6–12 and educators, including AI, ethics, programming, and future careers
-
KaushalVerse, NCVET’s advanced Digital Enterprise Portal
-
Revised Guidelines for Assessment Agencies and Awarding Bodies
-
Skill Impact Bond (SIB)—India’s first and the world’s largest outcomes-based development bond in skilling, mobilizing $14.4 million
-
District Skill Development Planning Book and India Semiconductor Workforce Strategy Report
-
60-hour Employability Skills Handbook for JSS learners
-
Revamped Apprenticeship Training Portal with an upgraded UI/UX
A key highlight was the exchange of high-impact MoUs, reaffirming India’s commitment to public-private and global collaboration in vocational education. Notable MoUs included:
-
India–France MoU: Signed between MSDE and the Government of France, focused on youth empowerment, joint curricula, Centres of Excellence, and skill-based learning. French Ambassador HE Thierry Mathou called it a “bridge between two nations committed to resilient economies and social mobility.”
-
Apollo MedSkills and RDSDE Telangana: Industry-oriented healthcare training for rural youth
-
SLN Technology and NSTI Bangalore: Advanced training in semiconductor technology
-
IIIT Una, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Patna, NIT Agartala, RRU Gandhinagar: Skilling programs under PMKVY 4.0 in AI, green tech, semiconductors, agriculture, AR/VR, cybersecurity, and wellness
The event also honored top-performing ITIs and showcased testimonials from beneficiaries of flagship schemes like NAPS, JSS, PM Vishwakarma, and IIE, illustrating on-ground transformation.
Dignitaries such as Shri Ambika G L Valmiki (MP, Andhra Pradesh), Shri Vikramjit Singh Sahney (Rajya Sabha MP, Punjab), and Shri Rajit Punhani (Secretary, MSDE) joined senior policymakers, industry leaders, and skilling beneficiaries from across India to commemorate the event.
Together, these initiatives mark a bold and inclusive step forward in making India a global skilling powerhouse, driven by innovation, equity, and excellence.
