Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, launched the “Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostic for Young People in Six States” report in New Delhi today. The event saw participation from key officials, including Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy; Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; Mr. Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director of the World Bank (India); and Smt. Shabnam Sinha, Lead Education Specialist, World Bank (India), along with ministry representatives and school principals.
Highlights from the Event:
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan’s Address
Shri Pradhan commended the World Bank team for the detailed report and proposed adopting a pan-India framework for skill development. He emphasized that such diagnostics could enable stakeholders to devise progressive policies to empower India’s population. Highlighting the broader concept of employment, he suggested redefining jobs from the perspective of economic opportunities and empowerment.
Shri Pradhan reiterated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a global skills hub, driven by its vast workforce. He emphasized integrating skilling into school education, as envisioned under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to foster readiness for the global economy.
He also noted the role of technological advancements in reshaping jobs and economic activities, calling for continuous upskilling and reskilling. A collaborative “whole-of-government” approach was proposed to prepare India’s population for becoming the global skill capital.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya’s Remarks
Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the importance of regional skill development under the hub-and-spoke model, introduced in the recent budget. He stressed redefining jobs to include informal education alongside academic learning. Acknowledging Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to building a prosperous and developed India, he underscored the need for skill-focused policies to make India a global hub for talent.
Shri Sanjay Kumar’s Perspective
Shri Sanjay Kumar underlined the importance of skill education and the collaborative efforts between ministries under Prime Minister Modi’s “whole-of-government” vision. He noted that NEP 2020 prioritizes embedding skill development into school curricula, emphasizing consistent practice for mastery.
Key Insights from the Report:
The report, developed by the World Bank, provides a detailed diagnostic of the employment landscape across six states: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan (the STARS states). It identifies sectors and roles with the highest employment potential for secondary school graduates while addressing skill gaps.
The findings aim to reimagine skill education by aligning school trades with industry needs through primary and secondary research. The report emphasizes localized strategies, offering deep insights into district-specific socio-economic conditions and their impact on employment opportunities.
Government Initiatives in Skill Development
Vision 2047:
The Government of India aims to transition to a high-income economy by 2047, necessitating urgent reforms in skill development and employment systems. Key priorities include:
- Strengthening vocational education through decentralized, market-led approaches.
- Aligning skill programs with local market needs for inclusivity and sustainability.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:
The NEP emphasizes integrating skill education into schools. Goals include:
- Providing skill education access to 50% of students by 2025.
- Ensuring all secondary schools offer skill education by 2030.
National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023:
NCF 2023 builds on NEP by embedding skilling from grades 9-12, aligning education with evolving job markets.
Role of the World Bank and STARS Program
The World Bank’s STARS program supports skill and education reform across the six states. It aims to:
- Embed skill-based education into secondary schooling.
- Align trades with district-level economic needs using a bottom-up approach.
- Disseminate key reforms nationwide through the program’s national component.
Conclusion
Jobs at Your Doorstep provides a roadmap for creating a skilled workforce ready for the demands of a dynamic economy. The report highlights the convergence of education and employment policies as a critical step toward realizing India’s potential as a global economic powerhouse. The Government of India’s commitment to skilling, supported by NEP 2020 and collaborative initiatives like STARS, paves the way for empowering youth and achieving the vision of a high-income India by 2047.