NCVET–Govt. of Maharashtra Workshop in Mumbai Focuses on Future Skills, Quality Standards & Integration of Vocational Education

Mumbai: The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department (SEEID), Government of Maharashtra, today organised a Capacity Building and Awareness Workshop for the Western Zone at Sahyadri State Guest House, Walkeshwar, Mumbai.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli—including State Skill Development Missions, State Councils for Vocational Training, universities, school and technical boards, awarding bodies, industry partners, and training institutions—to strengthen awareness of NCVET’s initiatives in the skill ecosystem.

Government’s Vision for Future-Ready Youth

In a recorded message, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, underlined the Government’s vision of building a learner-centric and demand-driven skilling ecosystem aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He highlighted NCVET’s role in ensuring quality standards and integrating vocational and general education.

The Minister also noted that flagship initiatives such as PMKVY 4.0, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), and the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme are empowering India’s youth to contribute meaningfully to the vision of an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

Maharashtra’s Commitment to Skilling

Delivering the Presidential Address, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister, SEEID, Government of Maharashtra, said:
“Skilling is about employment and empowerment. Through this workshop, we are taking a strong step towards integrating vocational education in schools and higher education, and ensuring our youth are future-ready with emerging skills.”

In her Keynote Address, Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, emphasised that NEP 2020 has paved the way for convergence of academic and vocational learning, and that NCVET’s zonal workshops are enabling quality assurance, synergy, and capacity building to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Building Standards, Integrating Future Skills
• Dr. Vinita Aggarwal, Executive Member, NCVET: NCVET’s mandate is to ensure high-quality standards across awarding bodies and assessment agencies.
• Dr. Neena Pahuja, Executive Member, NCVET: Future skills like Artificial Intelligence and Green Hydrogen must become integral to the skilling ecosystem.
• Smt. Manisha Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, SEEID, Maharashtra: Collaboration between States and NCVET, supported by credible ranking frameworks, is vital for strengthening skilling and vocational education.

Col. Gunjan Chowdhary, Director, NCVET, spoke about onboarding and the role of awarding bodies, while Purnendu Kant, Director, NCVET, shared key takeaways and the way forward for convergence in the VET ecosystem.

State Presentations and Way Forward

Yogesh Patil, Director, Maharashtra State Board of Skill, Vocational Education and Training, presented Maharashtra’s key initiatives, while other States—including Gujarat, Goa, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli—showcased their strategies and experiences.

The day-long programme featured sessions on quality assurance, Academic Bank of Credits, SIDH Portal, convergence of initiatives, and integration of vocational education in schools and higher education.

The workshop concluded with reflections on future strategies, reinforcing NCVET’s commitment to expanding outreach, supporting State bodies, and fostering synergy among stakeholders. The event was also live-streamed to ensure wider participation across the Western region and beyond.