MSDE Partners with World Economic Forum (WEF) to Launch India Skills Accelerator

NEW DELHI:
In a significant move towards accelerating India’s skilling goal, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s, deliberated on the “India Skills Accelerator” initiative during a high-level roundtable at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.

The India Skills Accelerator will function as a national public-private collaboration platform designed to enable cross-sectoral efforts in unlocking innovative ideas and driving systemic progress on complex challenges that demand a multi-stakeholder approach. At its core, the Accelerator aims to catalyze change across three critical levels: i) by improving awareness and shifting mindsets around future skills needs, ii) increasing collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders, and iii) committing to upgrade institutional structures and policy frameworks to support a more adaptive and responsive skilling ecosystem.

As India navigates rapid technological and economic change, skill gaps – cited by 65% of organisations as a major barrier – threaten to slow progress. The Accelerator aims to close these gaps through inclusive upskilling and reskilling, mobilizing investment in lifelong learning, and fostering government-industry collaboration. By enabling agile career transitions, promoting scalable training, and aligning education with industry need – especially in high-growth sectors like AI, robotics, and energy – the initiative will empower India’s youth and drive future-ready workforce development.

The initiative’s governance structure includes key stakeholders from public and private sectors, led and co-chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education and co-chaired by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Development of North-Eastern Region. It will also have two private co-chairs – Shobana Kamineni, Executive Chairperson of Apollo HealthCo; and Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv.

In his opening remarks, Minister Jayant Chaudhary underscored the need for collective ambition and structural reform in skilling to meet the aspirations of a young, dynamic nation. He emphasized that India’s demographic potential can only be realized if skilling systems remain agile, inclusive, and closely aligned with global opportunities and national priorities.

“India today stands at the confluence of three powerful forces – demographic advantage, digital transformation, and a deep developmental commitment. With the world’s largest youth population and a vibrant skilling ecosystem, we are uniquely positioned to become the Skill Capital of the World,” Chaudhary said. He noted that the Accelerator is not just a platform for dialogue, but a catalyst for systemic transformation, anchored in shared accountability, innovation, and targeted solutions. “This is a chance to engage in candid assessments and meaningful dialogue – anchored in data and focused on results”

The Minister further highlighted the importance of sectoral focus, mapping our current standing through surveys and evidence, and prioritizing emerging areas such as GCCs, advanced manufacturing, and the formalization of the informal workforce.

Co-chair and Minister, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar articulated India’s strategic opportunity to position itself as the global epicenter of next-generation talent. He underscored the need to embed competitiveness in India’s skills architecture—particularly in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing—so that India is not only skilling for its domestic economy but for the world. The Accelerator, he added, will play a critical role in translating this global ambition into measurable outcomes. “Through the National Education Policy, we have initiated transformative changes—promoting flexibility, vocational pathways, and digital skilling. Our federal model of implementation, involving both Centre and States, can serve as a valuable learning for global platforms like the WEF as well,” he said.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum (WEF), said, “In the face of rapid technological and labour market changes, India’s launch of the Skills Accelerator reflects a strong commitment to equipping its workforce with the skills needed for the future. By strengthening alignment across the skills ecosystem, this initiative will help close critical skills gaps, support the growth of India’s digital and innovation-driven economy, and enable more people to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work. We are pleased to support this important step and look forward to the impact it will deliver at scale.”

During the roundtable, the experts underscored the significance of a comprehensive analysis of India’s skilling ecosystem and identifying a set of 10 to 12 high-impact priorities with clear and measurable outcomes. They also emphasized establish dedicated working groups to guide implementation and ensure progress is tracked through WEF’s Global Learning Network – enabling peer learning and global benchmarking. Equally emphasized was the importance of thematic working groups, drawing on the expertise of diverse stakeholders, to translate strategy into coordinated action. The participants also deliberated on aligning the newly launched initiative with insights from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report.

The session saw active participation from senior leadership of the World Economic Forum, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Directorate General of Training (DGT), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), as well as key representatives from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).