National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) appoints IIM Bangalore alumnus Arunkumar Pillai as Chief Executive Officer on January 7, bringing private sector expertise to scale India’s skilling infrastructure amid demographic pressures. Pillai, PGP 2000 batch, steps into a role overseeing PMKVY 4.0 and sector skill councils, tasked with bridging training-employment gaps where only 54.8% graduates prove employable per India Skills Report 2025. His mandate emphasizes outcome-based reforms, industry co-creation, and apprenticeship expansion via PM-NAPS.
India launches its first nationwide Adult Skill Assessment Survey in 2026, a three-month exercise mapping basic, intermediate, and advanced competencies across the workforce to inform demand-aligned policies. Conducted by the Ministry of Statistics post-Q1, the survey addresses data scarcity on skill levels, revealing modest wage gains from vocational training and inconsistent recognition in informal sectors where most jobs absorb trainees. Findings will pivot skilling from supply-driven targets to targeted interventions exploiting the demographic dividend.
Kaushal Manthan consultations conclude with Skill Resolutions 2026, prioritizing ITI outcome grading, Sector Skill Council reorganization, and flexible training models for technological relevance. Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary chairs finalization of reforms like National Federated Skill Registry, Trainer Framework, and MSME integration, stressing convergence with states and industry for measurable placements. Resolutions target school-to-work transitions via credit frameworks and lifelong learning pathways.
Haryana accelerates vocational teacher capacity building, filling 2,052 of 2,784 sanctioned posts while running five-day in-service trainings through SVSU Palwal, DIETs, and SCERT Gurugram. Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda highlights practical exposure via artisan lectures, OJT, and field visits in 15 NSQF sectors including IT, healthcare, and agriculture, serving 2,03,557 students across 1,398 schools with 2,238 labs. 22 district Centres of Excellence in Model Sanskriti Schools will offer five skills each, bolstering NEP-aligned vocational push.
Rajasthan unveils AI-ML Policy 2026 on January 6, integrating artificial intelligence into public administration and service delivery with ethical guidelines and practical deployment frameworks. The policy fosters AI skilling hubs, data literacy programs, and industry partnerships, positioning the state as a leader in tech-driven workforce transformation.
Persistent challenges persist: PMKVY trained 1.4 crore since 2015 yet wage premiums remain low, with only 2% graduates pursuing post-degree certifications and skill mismatch limiting employability. ForumIAS advocates mandatory apprenticeships, curriculum-industry co-design, and recognition of prior learning to elevate informal sector outcomes. Insights on India stresses rethinking models for quality, alignment, and sustained life improvements beyond certification numbers.
Government platforms expand free 2026 courses via Digital India, covering AI ethics, cybersecurity, EV maintenance, and drone operations to boost employability and salary growth for youth in regions like Narnaund. With NSDC’s new helm and survey data incoming, 2026 positions skill development as economic multiplier, demanding execution beyond policy pronouncements
