Shri Jayant Chaudhary spoke at the Kaushal Manthan Regional Workshop organized by MSDE at Hyderabad

Speaking at the Kaushal Manthan Regional Workshop organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Jayant Chaudhary called for a shift away from rigid, one-size-fits-all approaches in skilling. “Skill development cannot have prescriptive templates,” he said. “We must empower states to craft solutions that are rooted in their local economic contexts and aligned with the aspirations of their youth. Only then can we create meaningful impact and sustained transformation.” Underscoring this vision for a more adaptive and responsive ecosystem, the Minister announced the establishment of two new Centres of Excellence—out of the five proposed nationwide—at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad and Chennai. The Hon’ble Minister, Shri Jayant Chaudhary underscored the imperative for states to adopt a more strategic, outcome-oriented approach to skill development—one that is deeply aligned with the aspirations of India’s youth and the evolving demands of the economy. The Hon’ble Minister firmly directed that the CITS (Craft Instructor Training Scheme) certification be made mandatory for all newly recruited instructors, particularly in newly established ITIs across states.

In this context, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), under its SANKALP scheme, commissioned the National Skill Gap Study—a comprehensive analysis conducted by the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER). During his visit to the Biochar Center of Excellence at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship inaugurated the first Rural Entrepreneurship Training Program on Biochar.

Voices from Leaders from the South: Shri D.K. Joshi, Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands: “The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are poised to become a gateway to India’s maritime future.” Dr. Sharanprakash R. Patil, Hon’ble Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development, Govt. of Karnataka: “Karnataka has always been at the forefront of skilling, blending academic rigor with practical industry needs.” Shri V. Sivankutty, Hon’ble Minister of General Education and Labour & Skills, Govt. of Kerala: “Through the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence and support from national schemes like PMKVY and SANKALP, we’ve focused on building workforce capacity for sectors like ports and logistics.”