LUCKNOW — During the third day of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly’s Monsoon Session 2025, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, Kapil Dev Agarwal, presented a comprehensive roadmap for the future of skill development in the state, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Developed India 2047” vision.
Minister Agarwal’s address detailed the achievements, current initiatives, and a phased future strategy for both the Directorate of Training and the Directorate of Skill Development. He highlighted that Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 250 million and a productive age group of 62 percent, aims to become the country’s “Growth Engine” by equipping its youth with essential skills.
The minister underscored the significant progress made over the past eight years by the Directorate of Training. Of the 35 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) announced by the Chief Minister, 23 have been completed and are now operational, with 19 running on a PPP model and four under government management. Currently, 324 ITIs train 1.84 lakh youths annually. Furthermore, the apprenticeship scheme has facilitated employment for over 2.81 lakh youths in industries and MSMEs. Infrastructure upgrades include the establishment of 151 IT labs and 144 smart classrooms, while new-age courses in fields like Robotics, Electric Vehicles, and 3D printing have been introduced in 149 ITIs with support from Tata Technologies Limited.
Vision 2047: A Phased Approach
Minister Agarwal outlined an ambitious four-phase roadmap for 2047, with key objectives including transforming ITIs into world-class skill development centers, increasing youth employment, promoting self-employment, and bringing the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate to zero.
The roadmap details a series of strategic initiatives:
- Phase 1 (2025-2030): Aims to train 25 lakh youths in industry-focused skills, establish advanced skill centers in one tehsil of each division, and launch a digital skilling platform.
- Phase 2 (2030-2035): Focuses on training 50 lakh youths, setting up dedicated skill universities, and introducing international certification programs.
- Phase 3 (2035-2040): Involves training in emerging fields like AI, data science, and green jobs, along with designating five cities as Global Skilling Hubs.
- Phase 4 (2040-2045): Targets skilling 1.5 crore people and establishing Uttar Pradesh as a “Skill Export Hub.”
- Final Phase (2045-2047): The ultimate goal is to make Uttar Pradesh the top skilled state in India and provide global employment opportunities to 10 lakh youths every year.
The minister also highlighted the achievements of the Skill Development Mission, which has provided free training to approximately 13 lakh youths in the last eight years, with over five lakh securing employment or starting their own businesses. Special projects have also been implemented for marginalized groups, including prison inmates, juveniles in reform homes, women in protection homes, and individuals with disabilities.
Minister Agarwal concluded that this long-term plan, guided by the visions of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will not only make Uttar Pradesh self-reliant in the field of skills but also position it as a global leader in a competitive world.
