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Revitalising India’s Skilling Ecosystem through DGT Initiatives
Context:
The recent focus on the Directorate General of Training (DGT) operations under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), led by Minister of State Shri Jayant Chaudhary, has drawn attention due to its efforts to revitalise India’s skilling ecosystem.
More in news:
- The recent review led by Minister of State Shri Jayant Chaudhary focused on modernising ITIs and NSTIs.
- Efforts were made to enhance industry collaborations and integrate digital learning platforms.
- The aim is to equip youth with relevant skills, foster innovation, and meet evolving market demands.
- Ultimately, these initiatives aim to strengthen India’s position in the global economy by building a skilled workforce.
Overview of Recent Initiatives:
- Understanding and evaluating key institutions like ITIs, NSTIs, NIMI, and CSTARI.
- Revitalising the skilling ecosystem by adding over 5000 new institutions in the past decade.
- Emphasising the role of ITIs and NSTIs in equipping youth with skills for innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Enhancing industry collaboration through Flexi MoU partnerships and Dual System of Training.
- Introducing specialised training programs and certifications for emerging sectors.
- Prioritising continuous professional development for trainers to keep pace with industry trends.
- Promoting a collaborative approach involving government, industry, and educational institutions to meet regional employment needs.
Enhancing Training Effectiveness through Digital Integration:
- Utilising digital platforms and e-learning tools to broaden training program accessibility and effectiveness.
- Proposed integration of digital resources into the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) for centralised management of training materials.
- Emphasis on establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track initiative progress and impact.
- Advocacy for data-driven decision-making processes to drive continuous improvement in training quality and outcomes.
About Directorate General of Training (DGT):
- It is a part of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
- It oversees vocational training programs nationwide, including Women’s Vocational Training.
- Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) are under the control of state governments or union territories, while DGT sets policies and standards.
- It develops and coordinates vocational training programs, ensuring consistency in policies and procedures.
- It is responsible for training instructors, conducting trade testing, and managing specialized vocational training schemes.
- Day-to-day administration of ITIs is handled by state governments and union territories.
Objectives of DGT:
- Develop overall policies, norms, and standards for vocational training.
- Diversify, update, and expand training facilities for craftsmen and crafts instructor training.
- Organise specialised training and research at dedicated institutes.
- Implement and regulate apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
- Conduct vocational training programs specifically for women.
- Provide vocational guidance and employment counselling.
- Enhance capabilities of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and persons with disabilities for employment.
Key Aspects of DGT:
- Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS): Offers NSQF-compliant courses in 150 trades, including specialised courses for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), currently training 23.15 Lakh individuals in 14,930 ITIs.
- Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS): Provides workplace training to supplement ITI skills, optimising industry infrastructure for skilled manpower.
- Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS): Imparts comprehensive training to instructors in vocational institutes across 33 locations, enhancing teaching methodologies.
- Advanced Vocational Training Scheme (AVTS): Offers short-term specialised courses to upgrade industrial workers’ skills.
- Digital Skilling and Modernisation: Integrates employability skills into ITI curriculum, and introduces new-age courses like IoT, Renewable Energy, and Mechatronics.
- Industry Collaboration Initiatives: Implements Dual System of Training (DST) and Flexi-MoU model to foster partnerships with industries, providing practical training in real-world environments.
