Gujarat to Skill 1 Lakh Youth With Support of Over 250 Industries 

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat is gearing up for one of its biggest skill-development drives, with more than 250 industries and academic institutions stepping forward to partner with the state government in training over one lakh youth during 2026-27.

The response came under the newly launched Namo Gujarat Kaushalya and Rozgar Mission (NGKRM), with the Gujarat Institutes for Advanced Skills (GIAS) serving as the key training platform. Leading organisations including L&T, International Automobile Centre of Excellence, Tata Indian Institute of Skills and Ganpat University have submitted proposals.

Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said the initiative would put industry requirements at the centre of training and employment.

“The mission aims to create a demand-driven, industry-led ecosystem for advanced skill development and employment generation across the state,” Bavaliya said.

The programme targets 1.03 lakh candidates in 2026-27, with an eventual goal of scaling training capacity to five lakh candidates annually. Courses will span NSQF Levels 1 to 8 and will be delivered through residential, non-residential and Recognition of Prior Learning formats.

Minister of State Kantilal Amrutiya said training would focus on 20 priority sectors, including healthcare, construction, IT-ITeS, tourism, logistics, aerospace, electronics, food processing and media.

The mission will also cover 12 emerging technology areas, including artificial intelligence, robotics, electric vehicles, blockchain, cybersecurity, semiconductor manufacturing, data science and drone technology.

The programme will cover beneficiaries aged 14 to 59, including women, unemployed youth, informal workers, e-Shram and e-Nirman registrants, economically weaker sections and existing workers seeking upskilling or reskilling.

To prevent misuse and ensure quality, training centres will require geo-fenced, face-recognition biometric attendance, CCTV surveillance, certified trainers and industry-standard infrastructure.

Training, assessment, certification and placement data will be tracked through a unified digital platform. Payments to training providers will also be linked to enrolment, certification and placement outcomes.

Eligible trainees will receive ₹500 for every 120 hours of training through DBT after successful certification.

Officials said NGKRM is designed to create a globally competitive workforce and strengthen Gujarat’s position as a major destination for skilled talent and employment.