National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) was set up in 2008 as a public-private partnership and works under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Its mission is to serve as India's national institution for a unified public-private skills ecosystem, one that makes industry more competitive and helps learners lead lives of "Dignity, Opportunity, and Resilience". NSDC describes its work in three parts: it prepares learners through industry-relevant training and nationally recognised certification, it connects them with employers, training partners, governments and industry, and it strengthens the people, businesses and institutions that make up the skilling system. It started out funding the network of Sector Skill Councils and training providers and building the national qualification system. Today it implements large government schemes and runs its own private-sector arms for online learning, skill financing and overseas placement.

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India

Major Areas of Work

• Skills training and certification: Industry-aligned training and nationally recognised certification for young people, women, specially-abled learners and marginalised groups.

• Standards and sector bodies: The National Qualification Packs and occupational standards that define courses, developed through a network of Sector Skill Councils.

• Government scheme implementation: Running central skilling, apprenticeship and artisan-support schemes on behalf of MSDE, with several brought together on one digital platform.

• Skill financing: Financing models and outcome-focused funding that widen access to training.

• International mobility and entrepreneurship: Preparing Indian workers for jobs abroad and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs with skills, mentoring and business support.

Major Initiatives and Programmes

• PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana): The national scheme that gives young people industry-relevant training to improve employability and livelihoods.

• PM-NAPS (Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme): Connects education and industry through hands-on apprenticeships.

• PM Vishwakarma: Supports traditional artisans and craftspeople through skill upgrading and financial assistance.

• NSDC Academy: Offers globally recognised micro-credentials and industry-aligned programmes taught by experts.

• NSDC International and SIICs (Skill India International Centres): Connect Indian workers with jobs overseas through workforce partnerships, international skill standards, language training and job-readiness programmes.

Impact

NSDC states it has trained more than 5 crore candidates, including over 1.9 crore women, more than 250,000 specially-abled learners and 1.47 crore people from marginalised socio-economic groups. Its site also cites more than 300,000 skill trainers, over 2,500 National Qualification Packs, 36 Sector Skill Councils, reach across more than 750 districts and over 198,000 partners across government, industry and training providers.

Leadership

• Arunkumar Pillai, Chief Executive Officer

• Prashant Sinha, Chief Operating Officer (Government Programs, State Engagement and Central Ministry)

• Rajesh Swaika, Chief Financial Officer, NSDC & NSDC International

• Sanjeeva Singh, Executive Vice President & Chief Program Officer (Skill Financing, Partnership, Entrepreneurship, Research & CSR)

NSDC sits at the centre of India's national skilling system, so its staff work on programmes that run in hundreds of districts and involve ministries, state governments, industry bodies and training providers. Its work spans public scheme delivery, standards and certification, digital learning, financing and overseas placement, which suits people interested in education, livelihoods, workforce policy or large-scale programme management. Staff deal with both government processes and private-sector partners. The role suits someone who wants to work on policy delivery at national scale.