Parliament Question: Status of Sector Skill Councils

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2317 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 STATUS OF SECTOR SKILL COUNCILS 2317. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: SMT. BHARTI PARDHI: SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) the total number of Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) operational in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and district Raigad and Pune and Madhya Pradesh including Balaghat Lok Sabha Constituency; (b) the mandate of these SSCs in identifying skill gaps and setting competency standards, particularly for key sectors in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and tourism sectors; (c) the details of skill needs identified by SSCs in the said States with a district-wise breakdown including rural/tribal areas; (d) whether National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) provides support to training providers operating in the said States especially within the MMR; and (e) the specifics of NSDC support, including funding, curriculum development, and certification for training providers in the said States? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (c): Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) are set up as industry-focused autonomous organizations rather than state-specific bodies, with a total of 36 SSCs listed at Annexure-I. SSC’s are mandated to define industry-aligned skill standards, assess workforce requirements, and promote sector-specific training programs. These councils periodically publish skill gap and skill assessment reports, which primarily provide insights at the national or sectoral level, highlighting workforce requirements, emerging job roles, and training needs across various industries.The key details of skill gap studies conducted by SSC’s in major sectors of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh state is given at Annexure-II. (d) to (e): NSDC provides structured support to training providers, including enterprises, start- ups, companies, and civil society organizations, to strengthen skill development initiatives across India. This support includes onboarding and accreditation of training centres, quality assurance, monitoring training outcomes, facilitating industry linkages, enabling assessments. Training providers deliver skill training aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), targeting unemployed youth, school dropouts, underprivileged communities, and individuals seeking employability enhancement, while also addressing industry workforce needs. The training targets are allocated based on sector demand, performance, geography, while promoting private sector participation, providing capacity building, quality assurance and digital tools to enhance training effectiveness, ensuring that training outcomes lead to improved employment, self-employment, or entrepreneurial opportunities. These modalities apply across States, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with the scope of support depending on scheme provisions, approvals, and the performance of individual training providers.ANNEXURES REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2317 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 REGARDING ‘STATUS OF SECTOR SKILL COUNCILS’ Annexure-I List of 36 Sector Skill Councils S.No Name of SSC 1 Aerospace & Aviation Sector Skill Council 2 Agriculture Skill Council of India 3 Apparel, Madeups& Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council 4 Automotive Skills Development Council 5 Banking, Financial Services & Insurance Sector Skill Council of India 6 Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council 7 Capital Goods & Strategic Skill Council 8 Construction Skill Development Council of India 9 Home Management and Care Givers Sector Skill Council 10 Electronics Sector Skill Council of India 11 Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative 12 Furniture & Fittings Skill Council 13 The Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India 14 Handicrafts & Carpets Sector Skill Council 15 Healthcare Sector Skill Council 16 Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council 17 Indian Iron & Steel Sector Skill Council 18 Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council 19 Instrumentation Automation Surveillance & Communication Sector Skill Council 20 IT-ITeS Sector Skill Council 21 Leather Sector Skill Council 22 Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council 23 Logistics Sector Skill Council 24 Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council 25 Media & Entertainment Skills Council 26 Power Sector Skill Council 27 Retail Associated Skill Council of India 28 Rubber, Chemical & Polymer Skill Development Council 29 Skill Council for Green Jobs 30 Skill Council for Mining Sector 31 Skill Council for PwD 32 Sports, Physical Education, Fitness and Leisure Sector Skill Council 33 Telecom Sector Skill Council of India 34 Textile Sector Skill Council 35 Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council 36 Water Management & Plumbing Skill CouncilAnnexure-II Key Details of Skill Gap Studies Conducted by SSC’s in Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh S Name of the Key details No. SSC The Logistics Sector Skill Council’s 2024 Skill Gap and Manpower Demand Report forecasts significant workforce requirements in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh through 2030. Maharashtra shows an incremental demand of 4,20,526 personnel, driven mainly by land transportation, courier & express services, warehousing, cold chain, rail logistics, EXIM, air cargo, port terminals, and inland waterways. Key districts such as Pune, Mumbai Logistics Metropolitan Region, and Raigad will see high demand for drivers 1 Sector Skill (LGV/HGV), delivery executives, warehouse and forklift operators, air-cargo Council roles, EXIM documentation staff, and port/ICD/CFS workers. Madhya Pradesh is projected to require 2,45,646 additional workers, predominantly in land transport, courier services, warehousing, cold chain, rail logistics, EXIM, air cargo, and ICD–CFS operations. Districts like Balaghat alone reflect notable demand, with around 2,300 roles in land transportation, 560 in express services, and 210 in warehousing and cold chain. The Food Industry Skill Council (FISCI) published a Skill Gap Report in 2022 that estimates the state-wise employment generation potential for the food processing sector through 2030. As per the report, the food processing sector’s employment generation potential till 2030 is estimated at 171,319 in Food Industry Maharashtra and 36,119 in Madhya Pradesh. The following represent the 2 Capacity & sub-sector wise demand at the national level between FY’20 and FY’30: Skill Initiative o Dairy: 2,73,571 o Fish & Sea food: 2,59,201 o Bread & Bakery: 1,86,750 o Milling: 1,23,335 The Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill Council’s 2022 Skill Gap Report estimates strong employment potential in the sector through 2030, projecting the need for 12,06,102 additional professionals in Maharashtra and 8,54,508 in Madhya Pradesh. Although state-specific subsector and job-role details are unavailable, the national-level forecast for FY’22–FY’30 highlights major Beauty & demand across a wide spectrum of roles in Beauty & Salon services, Wellness Alternate Therapies, Aesthetic Skin Services, Rejuvenation and Spa, 3 Sector Skill Products Manufacturing & Sales, Yoga, Fitness, and Weight Council Management. Key occupations expected to witness high demand include beauty therapists, cosmetologists, makeup artists, hair stylists, nail technicians, wellness and spa therapists, yoga trainers, personal trainers, dermatology and laser technicians, slimming and body therapists, and beauty product specialists etc.—reflecting the sector’s rapid expansion across beauty, wellness, fitness, and holistic health domains. The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council’s 2024 Skill Gap Report estimates strong employment generation potential in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh through 2028. Maharashtra, with its diverse tourism economy encompassing business hubs, heritage cities, religious circuits, coastal and nature-based destinations, is projected to require 3.4 lakh skilled workers in the next five years. Mumbai alone will need over 18,000, while Pune, Nashik, Shirdi, and Tourism & Lonavala will collectively account for significant demand across hotels, cafés, 4 Hospitality quick service restaurants, homestays, and tour operations. Priority roles Skill Council include guest service associates, front office executives, food and beverage stewards, kitchen staff, tour guides, homestay managers, and naturalists. Madhya Pradesh is projected to require over 1.2 lakh skilled workers in tourism and hospitality over the next five years. Indore, as the state’s commercial and culinary hub, will lead with demand for more than 29,000 professionals across hotels, restaurants, quick service restaurants, and eventvenues. The Ujjain–Omkareshwar pilgrimage corridor is expected to generate demand for over 24,000 skilled workers in guiding services, housekeeping, and food and beverage operations. The Bhopal–Raisen– Sehore cluster, focused on MICE and city tourism, will need over 8,700 workers, while Balaghat, near the Kanha–Pench wildlife belt, will emphasize eco-tourism and community-driven travel, requiring naturalists, community tour guides, homestay operators, and basic hospitality staff. Priority roles across the state include guest service associates, kitchen helpers, front office associates, tour guides, walk tour facilitators, homestay managers, and wildlife tourism naturalists. As per the study submitted by the Handicrafts and Carpet Sector Skill Council (SSC) in December 2025, the following table present the short-term and long- term demand aggregation for Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Demand Demand aggregation in aggregation in State Prominent crafts next 2 to 3 next 9 to 10 years years Zari &Zardozi Embroidery, Bagh Print (Hand block printing), Dhokra (Lost-wax Handicrafts Madhya Approx. Approx. metal casting), Stone Carving, 5 and Carpet Pradesh 1,20,000 10,00,000 Wood carving, Leather Toys SSC (Stuffed), Bamboo & Cane Work Kolhapuri Chappals, Bidriware, Copper & Brassware, Warli Paintings, Approx. Approx. Maharashtra Wooden Toys (Sawantwadi), 1,00,000 5,00,000 Lac Bangles, Pithora Paintings, Gond Handicrafts (Tribal Art) *****