The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) hosted the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers – Kaushal Manthan in Chandigarh, marking a significant step towards strengthening Centre–State collaboration on skills and entrepreneurship. Chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, the conference brought together Skill Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, and policy leaders from across North India.
Representatives from Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand participated in the deliberations.
At the core of the discussions was the recently approved ₹60,000 crore National Scheme for ITI Upgradation and Centres of Excellence for Skilling, which will transform 1,000 Government ITIs into world-class institutes through a hub-and-spoke model with strong industry participation. Other flagship initiatives such as PMKVY 4.0, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Jan Shikshan Sansthan were also reviewed, alongside innovative financing tools like the Skill Impact Bond and the Model Skill Loan Scheme.
In his address, Shri Jayant Chaudhary highlighted the need for coordination, convergence, and industry partnerships, stressing that India’s goal of becoming the skill capital of the world depends on collaborative efforts.
“Each State has unique strengths, but only by pooling resources, aligning strategies, and engaging industry as equal partners can we transform our ITIs, empower our youth, and make skilling aspirational for Viksit Bharat@2047,” he said.
He further underscored the flexibility of current schemes, the potential of the new ITI Upgradation plan, and the importance of recognising emerging skills—including languages and sports—to prepare a globally relevant workforce.
Ministers from Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, along with MPs and senior state officials, shared their pioneering skilling initiatives—from Drone Didi in Haryana to Mission YUVA in J&K and Industry 4.0 collaborations in Bihar. These contributions enriched the dialogue, reflecting India’s diverse regional priorities while reinforcing the spirit of cooperative federalism.
The conference concluded with a shared commitment to draft State Action Plans, deepen industry partnerships, and leverage digital platforms like the Skill India Digital Hub for transparency and scale. With this renewed consensus, Kaushal Manthan has set the stage for a coordinated skilling architecture that will make India’s youth future-ready and globally competitive.
