Gandhinagar: More than 250 industries and academic institutions have submitted proposals to partner with the Gujarat Government under its new advanced skilling initiative, which aims to train 1.03 lakh candidates during 2026-27 and build an industry-led workforce ecosystem.
The initiative is being implemented through the Gujarat Institutes for Advanced Skills (GIAS), a flagship component of the newly launched Namo Gujarat Kaushalya and Rozgar Mission (NGKRM). The Directorate of Skill Development has invited industries, academic institutions and training providers to join the programme as training partners.
Industry and Academic Participation
The participating institutions include L&T, International Automobile Centre of Excellence (iACE), Tata Indian Institute of Skills and Ganpat University, among others. iACE is a joint venture between the Gujarat Government and Maruti Suzuki India.
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The government aims to gradually scale the programme to five lakh trainees annually, with GIAS serving as the primary training delivery mechanism.
Training Across 20 Priority Sectors
According to Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya, the mission is designed to create a “demand-driven, industry-led ecosystem for advanced skill development and employment generation” across Gujarat.
“The mission aims to create a demand-driven, industry-led ecosystem for advanced skill development and employment generation across the state. GIAS will serve as the primary training delivery mechanism, offering short-term vocational courses aligned with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) Levels 1 to 8,” said Bavaliya.
Training will cover 20 priority sectors, including:
- Construction
- Healthcare
- IT-ITeS
- Electronics
- Tourism
- Logistics
- Aerospace
- Food processing
- Media
The initiative will also address 12 emerging technology domains, including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Robotics
- Electric Vehicles
- Blockchain
- Cybersecurity
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Data Science
- Drone technology
Digital Monitoring and Financial Support
The programme will use the NGKRM digital platform to manage training activities, attendance, assessments, certifications and placement tracking.
Training centres will be required to have technology-enabled infrastructure, including geo-fenced, face-recognition-based biometric attendance, CCTV surveillance, broadband connectivity and certified trainers. Training providers will receive performance-linked payments based on enrolment, certification and placement outcomes.
Eligible trainees will receive ₹500 for every 120 hours of training through Direct Benefit Transfer after successful certification. Training will be provided free of cost to eligible beneficiaries.
Focus on Inclusive Skilling
The mission will target youth, women, SC/ST communities, persons with disabilities, informal workers, artisans, migrants and other disadvantaged groups.
The empanelment of training partners will continue on a rolling basis throughout 2026-27, with selected partners initially empanelled for three years and eligible for a two-year extension based on performance.
The Gujarat Government said the initiative is aimed at developing a globally benchmarked, industry-integrated workforce while strengthening the state’s skilled talent and employment ecosystem.
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