Post-budget webinar on “Investing in People” was conducted on March 5 for which Department of Higher Education was the Lead Department along with MSDE. MSDE organized a Breakout session, on “National Centres of Excellence for Skilling”, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, bringing together representatives from state governments, industry, international organizations and academia to discuss the roadmap for effective implementation of the budget announcement.
During the webinar, Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi said that the vision of investment in people stands on three pillars—education, skill, and healthcare. Since 2014, we have provided skill training to over 3 crore youth, announced plans to upgrade 1000 ITIs, and are establishing five Centres of Excellence with global partnership to ensure that our youth can compete at the global level. In his closing remarks, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Govt of India highlighted “the government’s commitment to equipping India’s youth with future-ready digital competencies.
He said that the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship is developing Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) Program, aimed at integrating AI literacy with vocational training from as early as Class 6.” The Breakout Session on the “National Centres of Excellence for Skilling” was moderated by Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE and convened by Ms. Archana Mayaram, Economic Adviser, MSDE. The Panellists included Ms. Rashmita Panda, CEO, World Skills Centre, Odisha, Ms. Ragapriya, CITE and MD, KSDC, Government of Karnataka, Dr. Vinod Rao, Secretary, Labour, Skill Development & Employment, Government of Gujarat; etc.
