**Executive Summary**
The document provides the Ministry of Education's response to a parliamentary question regarding the steps taken to address the shortage of skilled professionals in India's renewable energy sector, particularly in solar manufacturing. It highlights the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to develop specialized curricula and training programs. The answer was provided on 02.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Initiatives:**
* The Government is implementing capacity building and skill development programs in renewable energy (solar, wind, bio-energy, small hydropower).
* Programs like Suryamitra, Varunmitra, Vayumitra, Jal-Urjamitra are implemented by MNRE's autonomous institutions.
* A specialized training program addresses skill requirements in solar cell and module manufacturing.
* Training is provided to technicians, electricians, installers, engineers, supervisors, vendors, and trainers for rooftop solar systems.
* Skilled manpower for green hydrogen is being created under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
* **AICTE's Role:**
* The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is implementing initiatives for curriculum alignment in Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE).
* AICTE mandates R&D and Climate Cells for innovation in solar energy.
* AICTE's Research Internship (ARI) Portal connects students with companies for renewable energy internships.
* Educational institutions under AICTE guidance are shifting to skill hubs, integrating renewable energy into STEM curricula.
* **Curriculum Development and Training:**
* The Ministry of Education collaborates with MNRE to develop specialized curricula for the clean energy sector.
* MNRE and IIT Roorkee have developed the Jal-Urjamitra program for small hydropower plants.
* Qualification packs and model curricula have been developed for short-term training.
* Several institutions have introduced renewable energy-focused courses.
* **Collaboration and Support:**
* MNRE's autonomous institutions are running joint postgraduate and research programs with educational institutions.
* The Ministry supports centers of excellence at IIT Bombay and IIT Roorkee.
* The Ministry provides research grants, laboratory upgradation support, and fellowships to align programs with industry requirements.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Students**
* **Impact:** Students gain access to specialized training programs, internships, and revised curricula focused on renewable energy and green skills, enhancing their employability.
* **Action Required:** Students are required to participate in mandatory internships and engage in government-initiated solar projects or industry partnerships.
**Stakeholder: Educational Institutions (ITIs, polytechnics, engineering colleges, universities)**
* **Impact:** These institutions act as training centers for renewable energy skill development programs, aligning their curricula with industry needs and integrating renewable energy into core engineering studies.
* **Action Required:** Institutions must empanel with implementing agencies, partner with companies for on-the-job training, and install rooftop solar plants to provide real-world experience.
**Stakeholder: Industry Professionals**
* **Impact:** Industry professionals can participate in specialized training programs to upgrade their skills and collaborate with educational institutions on curriculum development.
* **Action Required:** Participate in industry advisory boards to align educational programs with industry requirements.
**Stakeholder: Government (MNRE, AICTE, IITs, NITs)**
* **Impact:** These entities collaborate to implement and oversee skill development programs, develop specialized curricula, and provide support to educational institutions.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide research grants, laboratory upgrades, and fellowships, and implement schemes for rooftop solar plants to provide students with on-campus, real-world experience in solar PV systems.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy: Responsible for implementing capacity building and skill development programmes in the renewable energy sector.
Ministry of Education: Collaborates with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to develop specialised curricula and training programmes.
AICTE: All India Council for Technical Education; implements initiatives including curriculum alignment and new electives for minor degrees in Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE).
IIT Roorkee: Administers skilling programs for hydropower and collaborates with MNRE on the Jal-Urjamitra programme.
Human Resource Development Programme: Implemented through MNRE's autonomous institutions. Includes skill development programmes such as Suryamitra, Varunmitra, Vayumitra and Jal-Urjamitra.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 241
ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Role of Educational Institutions in Energy Sector
241. Ms. S Jothimani:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of steps taken by the Government to address the shortage of skilled professionals
in India’s renewable energy sector, particularly in solar manufacturing and the role of
educational institutions in this regard;
(b) whether the Ministry of Education collaborates with the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy to develop specialized curricula or training programs to bridge the skills gap in the clean
energy industry and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the number of educational institutions that have introduced renewable energy-focused
courses during the last three years and the measures taken to align these programs with industry
requirements?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (c): The Government of India has taken several steps to address the shortage of skilled
professionals in the renewable energy sector, including solar manufacturing. The Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy is implementing capacity building and skill development
programmes to create a skilled workforce for the design, installation, operation and
maintenance of renewable energy projects including solar, wind, bio-energy and small
hydropower. Skill development programmes such as Suryamitra, Varunmitra, Vayumitra and
Jal-Urjamitra are being implemented under the Human Resource Development Programme
through MNRE’s autonomous institutions namely the National Institute of Solar Energy,
Gurugram, the National Institute of Wind Energy, Chennai and the National Institute of Bio-
Energy, Kapurthala. The skilling programme for hydropower is administered through the
Hydro and Renewable Energy Department, IIT Roorkee. These programmes are implemented
through training centres located across the country, wherein ITIs, polytechnics, engineering
colleges and universities empanelled by the implementing agencies act as training centres. To
address the skill requirement in solar cell and module manufacturing, the National Institute of
Solar Energy has organised a two-and-a-half-month specialised training programme for
students and industry professionals. Further, under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft BijliYojana, training is being provided to technicians, electricians, installers, engineers, supervisors,
vendors and trainers for installation, design, operation and maintenance of rooftop solar
systems across the country. Skilled manpower for the green hydrogen sector is also being
created under the National Green Hydrogen Mission through schemes for skilling, up-skilling
and re-skilling implemented through national skill training institutes, industrial training
institutes, the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, MNRE
institutions, the Skill Council for Green Jobs and other sector skill councils.
To address the shortage of skilled professionals in the renewable energy (RE) sector,
specifically focusing on solar manufacturing and installation, the All India Council for
Technical Education (AICTE) has also implemented several strategic initiatives which include
curriculum alignment & new electives for minor degrees in Sustainable Energy Engineering
(SEE), Mandatory R&D and Climate Cells to establish Research and Development (R&D)
Cells and Climate Cells to foster innovation and sustainable practices, such as solar energy,
within campuses. In order to create awareness among Students, faculty and industry members,
AICTE has developed AICTE Research Internship (ARI) Portal in partnership with Industry
leaders which connects students directly with companies for internships in emerging fields,
including renewable energy. Generation Green Initiative empowers students with green skills
and enhance employability in the renewable sector.
Educational institutions under AICTE guidance are shifting from traditional teaching to acting
as skill hubs through initiatives like Integration of Renewable Energy in STEM. Institutions
are integrating solar PV, wind energy, and sustainability topics into their core engineering
curricula, they are partnering with companies for on-the-job training, specifically in solar
manufacturing to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and industrial requirements.
As per AICTE mandatory internship, every student has to go for internship with options to
work in government-initiated solar projects or the industry. Institutions are encouraged to
install rooftop solar plants through the scheme of MNRE, Govt. of India providing students
with on-campus, real-world experience in solar PV systems.
Ministry of Education collaborates with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in
developing specialised curricula and training programmes to bridge the skills gap in the clean
energy sector. MNRE, in collaboration with the Hydro and Renewable Energy Department, IIT
Roorkee has developed the Jal-Urjamitra programme for operation and maintenance of small
hydropower plants. Qualification packs and model curricula for short-term training
programmes have been developed by the Skill Council for Green Jobs in collaboration with
MNRE and IIT Roorkee. In addition, a two-year Small Hydro Power Plant Technician course
has been developed by the Directorate General of Training in association with IIT Roorkee and
industry associations. These collaborative efforts ensure standardised training and availability
of skilled manpower aligned with sectoral requirements.
Several educational institutions have introduced renewable energy-focused courses during the
last three years. MNRE’s autonomous institutions are running joint postgraduate and research
programmes in collaboration with reputed educational institutions, including an M.Tech
programme in Renewable Energy launched in 2020 by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute
of Technology, Jalandhar, in collaboration with Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-
Energy, Kapurthala, an MTech programme on Green Energy and Sustainable Development in
collaboration with Aligarh Muslim University and an MTech by Research programme with
Delhi Technological University. These institutions are also collaborating with IIT Bombay, IIT
Delhi and IIT Roorkee for research in renewable energy. The Ministry supports centres of
excellence at IIT Bombay for solar photovoltaic technologies and at IIT Roorkee for smallhydropower and also provides research grants, laboratory upgradation support and fellowships
to IITs, NITs and universities to align academic programmes with industry requirements.
The State-wise count of AICTE approved institutes running energy related courses is given in
Annexure.
AICTE has introduced model curricula for minor degrees in Sustainable Energy Engineering
(SEE). The updated curricula for technical education now emphasize "green skills". These
programs, alongside Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with organizations aim to train
students in sustainability, green skill development.
****ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFFERED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 241 ASNWERED ON 02.02.2026 ASKED BY HON’BLE
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MS S JOTHIMANI REGARDING ROLL OF
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ENERGY SECTOR
State wise count of AICTE approved Institutes running Energy related courses
2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total
State
Approved Approved Approved Approved Approved Approved
Institutions Intake Institutions Intake Institutions Intake
Andhra 4 54 4 54 5 66
Pradesh
Assam 3 69 3 69 4 117
Bihar 1 30 4 126 4 126
Chandigarh 1 12 1 12 1 12
Chhattisgarh 6 142 6 142 5 130
Delhi 4 108 3 78 4 108
Goa 1 18 1 18 1 18
Gujarat 7 282 7 264 7 264
Haryana 3 54 3 54 3 54
Himachal 1 18
Pradesh
Jammu and 1 18 1 18 1 18
Kashmir
Jharkhand 1 31 1 31 3 121
Karnataka 17 582 16 561 16 543
Kerala 12 276 10 204 11 222
Madhya 7 150 7 150 8 168
Pradesh
Maharashtra 6 111 6 99 8 130
Meghalaya 1 30 1 30 1 30
Odisha 4 75 7 102 7 102
Puducherry 2 47 2 47 2 107
Rajasthan 8 207 8 207 10 285
Tamil Nadu 20 410 19 398 25 572
Telangana 4 156 5 216 5 216
Tripura 1 18 1 18 1 18
Uttar 11 291 13 471 12 441
Pradesh
Uttarakhand 1 18 1 18 1 18
West Bengal 7 238 8 256 8 256
Grand Total 133 3,427 138 3,643 154 4,160