New Delhi: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Wednesday unveiled a series of initiatives—including a proposed ₹530-crore Skills Outcomes Fund, a national caregiver training programme, new guidelines for Centres of Excellence and the IndiaSkills Competition 2026-27—as part of the World Youth Skills Day celebrations.
Addressing the event, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, said India must prepare its youth not only for existing jobs but also for emerging opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
“The future belongs to those who continue to learn, adapt and innovate. India’s youth must be prepared not only for today’s jobs, but also for tomorrow’s opportunities,” Chaudhary said.
Calling skilling a lifelong journey, the minister said initiatives such as IndiaSkills, Centres of Excellence, apprenticeships and stronger industry partnerships are being expanded to improve employability in India and overseas while encouraging greater participation of women in non-traditional sectors.
Among the key announcements was the launch of the IndiaSkills Competition 2026-27 Guidelines, opening registrations for the country’s flagship skills competition across 63 industry-relevant trades through the Skill India Digital Hub.
The ministry also launched the WorldSkills India Champions Club, a mentoring platform that will connect former IndiaSkills and WorldSkills medallists with aspiring competitors to promote excellence in vocational education and skills training.
To strengthen advanced vocational infrastructure, MSDE released guidelines for establishing Centres of Excellence under the Skill India Mission. The centres are expected to offer industry-aligned training supported by modern infrastructure, advanced technologies and partnerships with employers.
In another major initiative, the ministry introduced a Multi-Skilled Caregiver Training Programme under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), following the Union Budget 2026-27 announcement to train 1.5 lakh caregivers. Of these, 1.3 lakh candidates will be trained through the Skill India ecosystem to meet the growing demand for healthcare, elderly care and home-based care professionals.
The ministry also announced the extension of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) pilot project in the North-East to expand workplace-based learning opportunities and deepen industry participation in the region.
A major policy announcement was the proposed Skills Outcomes Fund, an outcomes-based financing platform worth around ₹530 crore that will bring together government funding, CSR resources and philanthropic capital to support over two lakh youth with industry-linked skilling and employment opportunities. Funding under the initiative will be linked to independently verified outcomes such as certification, placement and job retention.
On the occasion, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, said the Skill India Mission has evolved into a nationwide ecosystem over the past 11 years, reaching more than six crore young people through partnerships with states, industry and training institutions.
The ministry also announced the formation of a Committee on Gender Mainstreaming to improve women’s participation across the skilling ecosystem and said it would invite entries for a national compendium documenting best practices in women’s skilling and employment from July 20.
India’s medal winners at the Global Skills Challenge Australia 2026 and the Taipei Capital Cup 2026 were felicitated during the event after securing a combined tally of three gold, three silver and one bronze medal, along with three Medallions for Excellence, underscoring India’s improving performance in international skills competitions.
