Skill Development Reforms Must Be Linked to Better Opportunities for Youth, Says Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary
New Delhi/Lucknow: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, convened the first meeting of the SARATHI (Strategic Advisory and Reforms Taskforce for Holistic ITI Transformation) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking a significant step towards modernizing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country.
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, and brought together ministers from various states, senior government officials, policy experts, and stakeholders from the skill development ecosystem. Among the participants was Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Kapil Dev Aggarwal.
The deliberations focused on transforming ITIs into modern, high-quality, industry-oriented institutions aligned with future workforce requirements. Key issues discussed included improving institutional performance and quality assurance mechanisms, promoting excellence in training, enhancing student engagement, strengthening assessment systems, and integrating technology into vocational education and training.
Participants also explored strategies to increase women’s participation in vocational education, develop innovative training models, strengthen coordination between education, skill development and employment, improve practical training, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance industry collaboration to ensure better employability outcomes.
Addressing the gathering, Jayant Chaudhary described SARATHI as a landmark initiative aimed at redefining vocational education in India. He emphasized that states across the country are implementing innovative reforms in the skill development sector and that the taskforce would provide a platform for sharing best practices and scaling successful models nationwide.
“Skill development reforms must remain closely aligned with emerging sectors, industry demands, and the aspirations of young people. This is essential to ensure that every youth receives quality opportunities and is equipped for the future,” he said.
Sharing Uttar Pradesh’s perspective, Kapil Dev Aggarwal highlighted the state government’s efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to modernize ITIs through advanced technology, industry-linked training programmes, and employment-oriented curricula.
He stated that Uttar Pradesh is committed to empowering youth with relevant skills that enhance both employment and self-employment opportunities. According to him, the SARATHI Taskforce will play a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of experiences among states, promoting innovation, and ensuring effective implementation of the national skill development strategy at the grassroots level.
Aggarwal further noted that skill development remains one of the most important pillars in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India. He reaffirmed Uttar Pradesh’s commitment to working closely with the central government to improve the quality of ITIs, strengthen industry participation, and achieve better employment outcomes for trainees.
The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including Debashree Mukherjee, Director General of Training Dilip Kumar, Economic Adviser Archana Mairam, Joint Secretary M. Subramanian, and NCVET Executive Member Ashok Kumar Gaba, along with representatives from DGT, NCVET, NSDC, UGC, skill universities, and various central and state government departments.
The inaugural SARATHI meeting underscored the government’s commitment to building a robust, future-ready vocational education ecosystem that equips India’s youth with the skills required to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
