Blitz Bureau
“In the next six months, India’s school-going population could make a powerful global statement — that we are home to the world’s largest network of young learners who are not just being introduced to AI, but actively using and applying it. This is the future we are building — bold, tech-savvy, and ready to lead,” said, Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE and Minister of State, Education, Jayant Chaudhary. He was speaking on the occasion of 10-year celebration of Skill India Mission, Bharat SkillNxt 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi last week. The event celebrated the mission’s achievements and unveiled a futuristic roadmap for India’s skilling ecosystem.
Several key initiatives aimed at shaping the future of India’s skilling landscape were launched on this occasion. These included the IndiaSkills 2025-2026 Operational Guidelines and Registration Portal; SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness); NCVET’s Kaushal Verse Digital Enterprise Portal; Assessment Agencies and Awarding Body Guidelines, and the All New Apprenticeship Training Portal. Reports and handbooks released included the India Semiconductor Workforce Strategy; Skill Impact Bond Report; Decentralised Planning Book; and the JSS Employability Skills Trainer Handbook.
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & IT, Jitin Prasada, said, “As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Skill India Mission, it is clear that skilling is not just a priority — it is the remote that holds the key to India’s transformation.
The event also witnessed the exchange of multiple high-impact MoUs that reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to public-private and international collaborations. Notable among these was the MoU between MSDE and the Government of France.
Other MoUs included partnerships between NSTI Bangalore and SLN Technology under the DST scheme, NSTI Mumbai and ICICI Foundation for rural incubation, and a series of flexi MoUs between rural skill development centres and prominent industry and academic institutions, including Dixon Technologies, Microsoft, HCL, Apollo MedSkills, and premier institutions like IIT Patna, IIIT Una, RRU Gandhi Nagar, IIT Hyderabad, and NIT Agartala under PMKVY’s institutional strengthening strategy.
During the event, candidates from the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), JSS, PM Vishwakarma, Skill Impact Bond, and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) shared their experiences, showcasing the tangible on-ground impact of MSDE schemes. This was followed by the felicitation of high-achieving candidates from these flagship schemes. Six best-performing ITIs were also honored, highlighting excellence in vocational training delivery.
MSDE officially launched IndiaSkills 2025-2026, marking the opening of the national registration window for candidates aspiring to represent India at global skill competitions. Alongside, the operational guidelines for IndiaSkills 2025 were released, providing a clear framework for the conduct of district, state, and national-level competitions. Registration Link: https://www.skillindiadigital.gov.in/account/register?returnUrl=%2Findia-skills-2025&utm_source=BannerClicks&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=IndiaSkills
The MSDE also launched a national level initiative SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) aimed at embedding AI awareness and foundational skills among school students (classes 6-12) and building AI literacy among educators. The programme seeks to bridge the digital divide by ensuring equitable access to AI education across geographies, thereby supporting the national agenda of inclusive, future-ready skilling. SOAR comprises three progressive 15-hour modules for students — AI to be Aware, AI to Acquire, and AI to Aspire — and one independent 45-hour module for teachers titled AI for Educators. The programme introduces concepts such as AI basics, generative AI, AI in daily life, programming fundamentals, ethics, cybersecurity and future career opportunities.
New initiative to make world’s largest school-going population AI-ready
Also announced was the Skill Impact Bond (SIB), India’s first, and the world’s largest, outcomes-based development impact bond for skilling and employment. Led by the MSDE through the NSDC, SIB has mobilised $14.4 million to transform how skilling is financed, with a clear focus on employment outcomes.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) operationalised its advanced Digital Enterprise Portal (DEP), officially named KaushalVerse. This state-of-the-art platform has been developed to streamline and democratise the core regulatory functions of NCVET, ensuring efficient, transparent, and responsive service delivery in the skill ecosystem.
NCVET also launched the Revised Comprehensive Guidelines for recognition and regulation of assessment agencies – 2025. These guidelines mark a significant step forward ensuring standardised, transparent, and outcome-based assessment across the country.