Shimla: Governor Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday said skill development would play a crucial role in creating a self-reliant workforce and realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, urging youth to continuously upgrade their skills to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.Addressing the Skill Convocation Ceremony organised by Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Shimla, the governor congratulated trainees who completed their courses and emphasised the need for industry-oriented skill training.Gupta said around 4.86 lakh youth in Himachal Pradesh had benefited from various central skill development schemes. Of these, 1.77 lakh were trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, while 95,942 benefited through Jan Shikshan Sansthan programmes. He also highlighted the contribution of apprenticeship and craftsmen training schemes in improving employability.The governor said initiatives such as Skill India, Startup India, Stand-Up India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat had transformed skill development into a nationwide movement. Stressing the importance of lifelong learning in the age of technology and artificial intelligence, he called upon youth to adopt the mantra of “Skill, Re-skill and Up-skill.”Gupta also underscored the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in integrating education with skills, innovation and entrepreneurship to prepare future-ready youth.
