Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed questions regarding the accreditation of vocational courses and the introduction of region-specific courses. The response clarifies the roles of the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) in vocational and technical education, respectively. It also details initiatives for developing future-ready workforce skills, including sector-specific groups led by IITs/IIMs/IISc.
Key Points / Main Content:
Vocational Education and Training:
NCVET is the overarching regulator for quality in vocational education, training, and skilling.
NCVET is responsible for National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) alignment and approval of skill-based qualifications.
The National Skills Qualification Committee (NSQC) implements NSQF, approving National Occupational Standards (NOS), MicroCredentials (MC), and other skill-based qualifications.
Qualifications cater to fresh skilling, reskilling, and upskilling, including multi-skilling and cross-sectoral skilling.
Technical Education and Accreditation:
NBA assures the quality and relevance of technical education programs, particularly in Engineering and Technology, Management, Architecture, Pharmacy, and Hospitality.
Accreditation is achieved through outcome-based program accreditation of technical institutions.
Future Workforce Development:
Sector Specific Groups (SSGs) led by IITs/IIMs/IISc assess future job requirements and identify courses for a future-ready workforce.
SSGs cover sectors like AgriTech, Healthcare and BioElectronics, BFSI, Energy, Logistics, Digital and Creative Economy, AI in Engineering, and Manufacturing/Industry 4.0.
IIT Delhi has already launched courses in Energy Education under this initiative.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Education:
Impact: Responsible for overseeing NCVET and NBA and implementing SSG initiatives.
Action Required: Continue to support and monitor the activities of NCVET, NBA, and SSGs.
NCVET and NSQC:
Impact: Responsible for maintaining quality standards and aligning vocational training with NSQF.
Action Required: Continue to regulate and approve skill-based qualifications, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
NBA:
Impact: Responsible for accrediting technical education programs and assuring quality.
Action Required: Continue to accredit programs and maintain a structured outcome-based accreditation mechanism.
Technical Institutions:
Impact: Must adhere to NBA standards for accreditation of technical programs.
Action Required: Seek accreditation for relevant programs and ensure compliance with NBA guidelines.
IITs, IIMs, IISc (Leading SSGs):
Impact: Responsible for assessing future job requirements and curating relevant courses.
Action Required: Continue to assess the future of work in their respective sectors and develop courses for a future-ready workforce.
Students and Trainees:
Impact: Will benefit from NSQF-aligned vocational training and accredited technical education programs, enhancing employability.
Action Required: Participate in relevant training programs and seek out accredited institutions for technical education.
Key Entities Referenced
National Board of Accreditation NBA: A body under the Ministry of Education responsible for the accreditation of technical education programs in India.
Vocational Courses: Courses designed to provide practical skills and knowledge for specific occupations or industries.
National Council for Vocational Education and Training NCVET: An overarching regulator for vocational education and training in India, responsible for establishing regulations and standards.
National Skills Qualification Framework NSQF: A framework for organizing qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude.
National Skills Qualification Committee NSQC: Committee responsible for NSQF alignment and approval of National Occupational Standards and skill-based qualifications.
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education.
Labour Market Information System LMIS: A system for collecting and analyzing data on labor market demand and supply.
Sector Specific Groups SSGs: Groups constituted by the Ministry of Education to assess the future of work and identify courses for a future-ready workforce, each led by an IIT/IIM/IISc.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1311
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Accreditation of Vocational Courses by NBA
1311. SHRI VE VAITHILINGAM:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government subscribes to the view that Vocational Courses should be
accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA);
(b) whether region-specific courses should be introduced after studying data on demand and
supply provided by the Labour Market Information System (LMIS);
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the details of initiatives proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): Government of India has set up the National Council for Vocational Education and
Training (NCVET) as an overarching regulator for establishing regulations and standards to
ensure quality in Vocational Education Training & Skilling vide notification No. SD-
17/113/2017-E&PW dated 5th December 2018. One of the major mandate of NCVET is
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) alignment and approval of skill based
qualifications being implemented in both short term and long term training ecosystem. The
NSQF is anchored in NCVET and is implemented through, inter-alia, the National Skills
Qualification Committee (NSQC).
The NSQC is responsible for NSQF alignment and approval of all types of National
Occupational Standards (NOS), Micro-Credential (MC), industry-based skill courses and other
skill based qualifications including the certificate (short term and Long Term) qualification as
well as Diploma & Advanced Diploma Qualifications, certifications including Short Term
Training (STT), Long Term Training (LTT) skilling. These qualifications cater to the
requirements of fresh skilling, reskilling and upskilling as per requirement. The NSQF
alignment of different types of qualification also caters to the multiskilling, cross sectoral
skilling and/or skilling in emerging and future technologies.
The National Board of Accreditation (NBA), under the Ministry of Education is responsible
for assuring the quality and relevance of technical education, particularly in programs relatedto Engineering and Technology, Management, Architecture, Pharmacy, and Hospitality, etc.
This is achieved through a structured mechanism of outcome-based program accreditation
offered by various technical institutions.
The Ministry of Education constituted Sector Specific Groups (SSGs) in the 8 different fields
each lead by an IIT/IIM/IISc to assess the “Future of Work” Job requirements and identify a
list of courses which need to be curated for future ready workforce. Sectors covered by the
SSGs are AgriTech (IIT Ropar), Healthcare and Bio-Electronics (IIT Madras), Banking,
Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) (IIM Bangalore), Energy (IIT Delhi), Logistics (IIM
Mumbai), Digital and Creative Economy (IIT Bombay), AI in Engineering (IISc Bangalore) &
Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 (IIT Madras). IIT Delhi has already launched courses in
Energy Education under this initiative.
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