Parliament Question: Skill Development in wedding and wedding tourism sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2201 ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN WEDDING AND WEDDING TOURISM SECTOR 2201. SMT. SUDHA MURTY: Will the MINISTER OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether in view of the growth of the wedding and wedding tourism sector and India’s positioning as a global wedding destination, Government has examined its employment potential for structured skill development; (b) whether consultations have been held with industry stakeholders to identify skill gaps across services such as event management, hospitality, catering, decoration and traditional crafts; (c) whether Government has considered implementing specialised skilling modules or short-term training programmes, particularly for youth, artisans and women; and (d) whether convergence with existing schemes is being explored to create structured skilling pathways and certification frameworks for this sector? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (d): Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country. The SIM aims at enabling the youth of India to get future-ready, equipped with industry-relevant skills. The wedding and wedding tourism sector has emerged as a significant employment generator within the tourism and hospitality ecosystem, and India is well positioned to benefit due to its diverse destinations and competitive pricing. As per the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) Skill Gap Study (2024), the hospitality sector is projected to require nearly 3 million additional skilled professionals by 2028, with event-based hospitality services identified as high-growth segments in the states such as Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Telangana and Jammu & Kashmir and others. THSC has undertaken consultations with hotel chains, event management companies and catering enterprises. The wedding and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segments are closely integrated with core hospitality operations. Some of the key job roles identified include: Food & Beverage Service, Event Managers, Bartenders, Kitchen/Culinary Professionals, Housekeeping and Front Office Associates.THSC has developed Qualification Packs and short-term training programmes relevant to wedding tourism and MICE operations for the above-mentioned job roles, covering youth, women and artisans. Currently, more than 25 job roles related to Wedding and MICE tourism have been developed across progressive National Skill Qualifications Framework (NSQF) levels. Additionally, Short-Term Training (STT) programmes are designed to meet emerging industry demands. Convergence with schemes such as PMKVY, Apprenticeship and Ministry of Tourism-supported programmes is undertaken to formalize and scale structured skilling pathways, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Under these schemes, candidates are trained in job roles directly relevant to wedding tourism and MICE operations. Apprenticeship-based on-the-job training ensures the availability of industry-ready manpower, enabling India to meet rising demand while maintaining global service standards. *****