Regional Conference of Skill Ministers ‘Kaushal Manthan’ Charts United Roadmap for Skilling and Entrepreneurship
Jayant Chaudhary speaks at the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers – Kaushal Manthan in Chandigarh on Thursday
Chandigarh, August 29: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Thursday convened the Regional Conference of Skill Ministers – Kaushal Manthan in Chandigarh, bringing together leaders from the Centre, States, and Union Territories to align strategies for the future of skills and entrepreneurship.
Chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the conference saw participation from Skill Ministers and senior officials of Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
At the centre of discussions was the recently approved ₹60,000 crore National Scheme for ITI Upgradation and Centres of Excellence, which aims to transform 1,000 government ITIs into world-class institutes through a hub-and-spoke model. Flagship schemes like PMKVY 4.0, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and Jan Shikshan Sansthan were also reviewed, with participants calling for deeper state-level alignment and industry partnerships.
In his keynote address, Chaudhary stressed the importance of convergence and collaboration: “Kaushal Manthan is not just a conference—it is a call for united action to make skilling aspirational and impactful for Viksit Bharat@2047.” He urged states to pool resources, map industry demand, and treat skills as the backbone of both jobs and entrepreneurship, while highlighting the recognition of new-age skills such as languages and sports.
States showcased pioneering initiatives: Punjab detailed ITI reforms and Centres of Excellence; Haryana highlighted its Drone Didi scheme and India’s first Skill University; Bihar presented Industry 4.0 collaborations; Jammu & Kashmir outlined its Mission YUVA to create 4 lakh jobs; and Uttarakhand showcased partnerships with Tata Technologies and Hero to build an Industry 4.0-ready workforce.
The deliberations concluded with a commitment to prepare state action plans, deepen industry collaboration, and leverage digital tools like the Skill India Digital Hub for transparency and scale. Officials said the consensus forged at Kaushal Manthan has laid the foundation for a coordinated national skilling architecture to prepare India’s youth for future opportunities.
