AUG 28: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) hosted the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers – Kaushal Manthan in Chandigarh, bringing together State Skill Ministers, MPs, and senior officials from North India to advance the skilling and entrepreneurship agenda for Viksit Bharat@2047.
Chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Education, the conference emphasized coordinated efforts between the Centre and States. Delegations from Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and others participated.
A key highlight was the ₹60,000 crore National Scheme for ITI Upgradation, aiming to modernize 1,000 ITIs via a hub-and-spoke model and industry-led management. Other key programs discussed included PMKVY 4.0, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and Skill Impact Bonds, all aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.
Shri Chaudhary stressed the importance of convergence and industry collaboration, stating that “Kaushal Manthan is a call to action to make skilling aspirational and impactful.” He also underscored that skill development includes diverse domains such as languages and sports.
States shared transformative initiatives — Punjab’s ITI reforms, Haryana’s Drone Didi scheme and India’s first Skill University, Bihar’s Industry 4.0 programs, and Jammu & Kashmir’s Mission YUVA aiming to create 4 lakh jobs.
The event concluded with a unified pledge to draft State Action Plans, strengthen industry partnerships, and utilize digital platforms like the Skill India Digital Hub. Kaushal Manthan 2025 has thus laid the groundwork for a robust, inclusive skilling ecosystem to empower India’s youth for global opportunities.
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