IndiaSkills 2021 Nationals, a nationwide talent competition focusing on skills, recently concluded with notable outcomes. This event is the largest of its kind in the country and aims to display the highest standards of skilling. It offers young aspiring individuals a chance to demonstrate their abilities both nationally and internationally. This article covers essential aspects about this event, the urgency of skill development amongst youth, the associated challenges, and the initiatives undertaken so far.
About IndiaSkills Competition
The IndiaSkills competition is a biennial event supported by various state governments and industries. This competition aims to acknowledge and elevate the standard of skills amongst Indian youth. In 2021, participants from 30 states and Union Territories flaunted their skills in 54 sectors, including seven innovative areas such as beauty therapy, cyber security, floristry, robot system integration, cloud computing, water technology, painting and decorating, and health and social care. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), guided by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is the key agency overseeing this endeavor. NSDC also leads India’s participation in the WorldSkills International competitions since 2011. The states of Odisha, Maharashtra, and Kerala performed particularly well in 2021. The victorious performers at IndiaSkills 2021 Nationals will represent India at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China in October 2022.
The Imperative of Skill Development
Indian labor force has a high percentage of unskilled workers. According to the UNDP’s Human Development Report-2020, only 21.1% of the labor force was skilled between 2010 and 2019 in India. This disappointing figure is due to disjointed policy actions, lack of a comprehensive approach, and siloed functioning. Additionally, India’s unemployment rate peaked in 2020 due to several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a World Economic Forum report from January 2021 stated that investing in skill enhancement could potentially boost the global economy by USD 6.5 trillion by 2030. With respect to India, the economy could benefit from a boost of USD 570 billion and an addition of 2.3 million jobs by 2030, making India second only to the U.S in potential job additions.
Initiatives and Schemes for Skill Development
Several initiatives and schemes have been launched to encourage skills development in the country. These include the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which aims at recognizing and certifying prior learning; the National Career Service project – a unifying platform for all employment services; the Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP) that provides market-relevant training to youths; the Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors’ (YUVA) scheme; the Kaushalacharya Awards, which honor trainers in the vocational training ecosystem; the Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS) that offers industry apprenticeship opportunities to fresh graduates; and the Atmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM) that bridges demand-supply gap. With these diverse programs, the government aims to foster a culture of skilled labor, thereby boosting both the employability of individuals and the overall productivity of the nation’s workforce.
