Jaipur, Rajasthan, 17 April, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening Rajasthan’s skilling ecosystem and accelerating the Rajasthan state skill mission objectives, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), in collaboration with the Government of Rajasthan, organized the ‘Rajasthan State – NSDC Sector Skill Council (SSC) Kaushal Samvad’ at Jaipur. This high-level consultation workshop was chaired by Shri Sandeep Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of Rajasthan. The NSDC delegation, along with CEOs of 28 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), was led by Shri Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, NSDC. The workshop deliberated on a comprehensive, 5-year skilling roadmap for the state aligning its priorities with industry demand and institutional capabilities.
Rajasthan is adopting a focused and outcome-driven approach to skilling, building on its existing network of skilling institutions. Key sectors of priority include tourism, green energy, gems and Jewellery, manufacturing and food processing, aligned with the state’s inherent strengths. Additionally, Rajasthan is exploring innovative models such as Skill Impact Bonds to ensure that skilling initiatives are closely linked to measurable outcomes and tangible impact.
During the deliberations, NSDC presented a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen the state’s skilling ecosystem. This includes the establishment of a World-class skill Institution and Skill India International Center (SIIC) in Jaipur, and the creation of 10 -15 Sectoral Centers of Excellence, (CoEs). The WorldSkills Training Institution being developed on the lines of the World Skills Centre, Bhubaneswar and the Global Skills Park, Bhopal, will function as advanced WorldSkills training institution and serve as key platforms for mentoring and monitoring the skill ecosystem in Rajasthan. Government of Rajasthan has already made budgetary allocation of Rs. 450 Crores for this project. The roadmap also focuses on collaborative efforts between Rajasthan state and NSDC-SCC towards transforming ITIs under the PM-SETU initiative, along with sector-specific interventions in key areas such as tourism, gems and Jewellery, handicrafts, auto, electronics, and renewable energy. Additionally, the integration of NSDC Academy Future Skills programs across schools, colleges, and ITIs was highlighted as a key step towards making future-ready learners in the education system.
A key highlight of the Samvad was the strong on-ground engagement demonstrated by SSCs in Rajasthan across both state and central schemes. Under PMKVY 4.0, candidates have been certified by SSC across diverse sectors including electronics, textiles, agriculture, automotive, healthcare, handicrafts, and media and entertainment. Similarly, under PM Vishwakarma, candidates have been certified across sectors such as agriculture, tourism and hospitality, leather, gems and jewellery, and textiles among others. These efforts reflect the depth and scale of the SSC ecosystem and its ability to deliver impactful skilling outcomes.
The SSCs expressed strong interest in establishing CoEs and state-of-the-art Skill Development Centers in Rajasthan to drive focused, industry-aligned skilling in priority sectors. These centres are envisioned as hubs for advanced training, innovation, and strong industry linkages, aimed at equipping youth, with practical skills and job-ready expertise. SSCs emphasized workforce development in emerging areas like semiconductor and electric vehicles [EV], conducting Rajasthan-specific skill gap assessments to support district-level workforce planning and cluster development, and strengthening rural livelihoods by empowering SHGs and FPO members through targeted skill development interventions.
With focused participation of NSDC-SSC, the initiative holds the potential to skill approximately 1 million youth in Rajasthan by 2030. The scale of intervention is expected to significantly enhance employability, drive entrepreneurship, and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic growth. The structured approach will enable convergence with central ministry and state schemes.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Sandeep Verma, ACS, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of Rajasthan, said, “Rajasthan is committed to building a future-ready workforce that aligns with both industry needs and global opportunities. The collaboration with NSDC and Sector Skill Councils provides a structured pathway to scale skilling efforts with quality and impact. Our focus will now be on translating today’s discussions into time-bound, on-ground implementation.”
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Arunkumar Pillai, CEO, NSDC, said, “Rajasthan has a strong foundation across both traditional and emerging sectors, and we see a clear opportunity to scale impact through focused, industry-aligned skilling. With over 2.5 lakh candidates already certified under PMKVY 4.0 and more than 2.3 lakh under PM Vishwakarma, the momentum is strong. Building on this, our aim is to positively impact one million lives in Rajasthan over the next five years, while positioning the state as a key hub for skilled talent.”
The event was also graced by Shri Rishav Mandal, Commissioner of Skills and Managing Director RSLDC, Government of Rajasthan; Shri Prashant Sinha, COO, NSDC; Shri Mahendra Payaal, CPO, NSDC; Shri Rajesh Swaika, CFO, senior government officials, and representatives from SSCs.
-(1)-(1).png)
