**Executive Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1164 on 28.07.2025, the Ministry of Education outlines initiatives under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to integrate skill development with mainstream education. The response details actions taken to provide skill-based training, compulsory skill development introduction, and schemes for employment. It also addresses skill development in specific areas and support for marginalized communities.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **NEP 2020 Emphasis:**
* Integrates skill development with mainstream education.
* Removes separation between vocational and academic streams.
* Introduces vocational education in middle and secondary schools.
* **Samagra Shiksha Scheme:**
* Provides financial assistance to State/UTs for NSQF-aligned skill courses for students in classes 9th-12th.
* Offers skill modules as an additional subject in classes IX and X.
* Provides skill courses as compulsory electives in classes XI and XII.
* Includes pre-vocational education exposure at the Upper Primary level.
* Focuses on new-age skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AIML, ARVR, Climate Change, Green Economy, and Energy Transition.
* **National Credit Framework (NCrF):**
* Integrates elementary, school, higher, and vocational education training.
* Enables creditization of learning in academics, vocational skills, and experiential learning.
* Removes distinction and establishes academic equivalence between vocational and general education.
* Developed jointly by UGC, AICTE, and NCVET.
* **AICTE Initiatives:**
* Aims to make polytechnic and engineering college courses more practical.
* Mandates internships in model curricula.
* Develops guidelines for Apprenticeship Embedded Degree/Diploma programs.
* Develops model curricula in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Space Technology, Electronic Engineering VLSI Design and Technology, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
* Ensures industry stakeholder representation in curriculum revision committees.
* Signs MoUs with industries for internship, skilling, and upskilling.
* Launches Industry Academia Mobility framework.
* **National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS):**
* Imparts on-the-job training to enhance youth employability.
* Engaged 12.94 lakh apprentices from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* Engaged over 5.23 lakh apprentices for FY 2024-25.
* **Skill India Mission (SIM):**
* Delivers skill, reskill, and upskill training through various schemes (PMKVY, JSS, NAPS, CTS) via skill development centers and ITIs.
* Aims to equip Indian youth with industry-relevant skills.
**Impact Analysis:**
**Students:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from integrated skill development, enhanced practical training, and improved employability through internships and apprenticeships.
* *Action Required:* Actively participate in skill development programs, internships, and apprenticeship opportunities.
**Educational Institutions (Schools, Colleges, Polytechnics, ITIs):**
* *Impact:* Required to integrate skill development into curricula, offer NSQF-aligned courses, and collaborate with industries.
* *Action Required:* Implement NEP 2020 guidelines, revise curricula, establish industry partnerships, and facilitate student participation in skill development programs.
**Faculty:**
* *Impact:* Need to adapt teaching methods to incorporate practical training and industry exposure and upskill with current technologies.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs, collaborate with industry experts, and update curricula to align with industry needs.
**Industries:**
* *Impact:* Expected to collaborate with educational institutions by offering internships, apprenticeships, and contributing to curriculum development.
* *Action Required:* Establish partnerships with educational institutions, provide internship and apprenticeship opportunities, and participate in curriculum revision committees.
**State/UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the Samagra Shiksha scheme and facilitating skill development initiatives.
* *Action Required:* Utilize financial assistance for NSQF-aligned courses, promote vocational education, and monitor the progress of skill development programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy document of India that emphasizes integrating skill development with mainstream education.
Samagra Shiksha: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme that provides financial assistance to State/UTs for offering National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned skill courses.
National Skill Qualification Framework NSQF: A framework that aligns skill courses offered to students from class 9th to 12th under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
National Credit Framework NCrF: A comprehensive credit framework encompassing elementary, school, higher, and vocational education training.
University Grants Commission UGC: One of the developers of NCrF
All India Council for Technical Education AICTE: One of the developers of NCrF, has taken measures to make course content for polytechnics and engineering colleges more practical.
National Council for Vocational Education Training NCVET: One of the developers of NCrF
National Apprenticeship Training Scheme NATS: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Education to impart on-the-job training and enhance the employability of youth.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1164
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Skill Development Training under NEP 2020
†1164. Shri Imran Masood:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is committed to make students self-reliant by providing skill
development training after completion of education or along with education as per the
National Education Policy (NEP);
(b) if so, the action plan of the Government made to make skill development compulsory
across the country;
(c) the areas of skill development identified/to be introduced as compulsory at the initial
stage;
(d) whether the Government has any scheme to provide employment in the same branch of
skill development to the students who choose that branch during their studies; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to run special skill development classes in minority,
Dalit or slum and backward areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 lays emphasis on integrating skill
development with mainstream education by embedding vocational and practical skills across
school and higher education, removing hard separations between vocational and academic
streams. NEP also calls for exposure to vocational education at early stages in middle and
secondary schools.
In pursuance of NEP 2020 and under the Skill Education component of the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme ‘Samagra Shiksha’ financial assistance is provided to State/UTs for offering National
Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned skill courses to the students from class 9th to
12th. At the Secondary level i.e., Class IX and X, skill modules are offered to the students as
an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e., Class XI and XII, skill courses are offered
as a compulsory (elective) subject. Exposure of prevocational education at Upper Primary
level, 10 bagless days etc. have been included under Innovation component of Samagra
Shiksha. Under Samagra Shiksha, NSQF level aligned Job Roles (JRs) are implemented with
a focus on new age skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AI/ML, AR/VR, Climate Change, Green
Economy, and Energy Transition.Further, the National Credit Framework (NCrF) has been launched as a comprehensive credit
framework encompassing elementary, school, higher, and vocational education & training,
integrating creditization of learning in various dimensions i.e. academics, vocational skills and
experiential learning including relevant experience and proficiency/ professional levels
acquired. The NCrF has been jointly developed by University Grants Commission (UGC), All
India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational
Education & Training (NCVET) among others and it provides for creditization of all learning
and assignment, accumulation, storage, transfer & redemption of credits, subject to assessment;
removes distinction and establishes academic equivalence between vocational & general
education while enabling mobility within & between them.
AICTE has taken several measures to make course content for polytechnics and engineering
colleges, more practical and provide additional industry exposure to the students. Internship
has been made a mandatory component of model curriculum developed by AICTE. Guidelines
for Implementation of Apprenticeship Embeded Degree/Diploma programmes have been
developed.
• Model Curriculum has been developed in areas such as Artificial Intelligence,
DataScience, Space Technology, Electronic Engineering (VLSI Design and
Technology),Robotics and Artificial Intelligence etc. Due representation of Industry
stakeholders isensured in the curriculum revision committees.
• Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with leading industries and organisations have
been signed to facilitate internship, skilling and upskilling of students and faculty
members.
• Industry Academia Mobility framework launched by AICTE to facilitate connect
between theoretical knowledge and practical application, facilitating collaboration
between academia and industry.
The Ministry of Education has implemented National Apprenticeship Training Scheme
(NATS) to impart on-the -job training and enhance the employability of youth. In the last 5
financial years, i.e. from FY 2020-21 to 2024-25, the NATS scheme has engaged 12.94 lakh
apprentices. For FY 2024-25, over 5.23 lakh apprentices have been engaged.
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 / institutes under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri
Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan 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 including rural areas. The
SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready and equipped with industry relevant
skills.
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