The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF) and the Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS) — the incubator of BITS Pilani — has launched an innovation and start-up challenge aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among students of National Skills Training Institutes (NSTIs) across the country.
NSTIs, operating under the aegis of DGT, play a critical role in India’s vocational training ecosystem, providing technical instruction to create a skilled workforce and instructor trainees for various industries. Currently, 33 NSTIs are operational nationwide, training over 10,000 students under the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS). Dedicated NSTI (Women) centres also focus on women’s vocational education.
While India has several platforms supporting innovation at the school and higher education levels, there has been limited institutional support for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, which serves over 13 lakh students enrolled in ITIs and NSTIs. Most TVET graduates traditionally pursue industry jobs, work as trainers, or enter self-employment.
The newly launched initiative — Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita — seeks to bridge this gap by nurturing skill-based innovation and entrepreneurship among NSTI students.
Speaking at the launch, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, Government of India, said “At the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, we believe that every skilled individual carries within them the potential to become a job creator. Through this partnership with the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, we are enabling NSTI students to channel their technical skills into innovation and enterprise. The Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha will empower our young innovators to transform ideas into sustainable ventures, strengthening India’s vision of becoming an Aatmanirbhar and innovation-driven nation.”
The first-of-its-kind innovation challenge will engage more than 10,000 NSTI students, providing mentorship, prizes, access to resources, and incubation support to help turn innovative ideas into viable ventures.
The program will focus on projects in IT/ITeS, Automotive, Apparel, Electronics & Hardware, Power, Capital Goods, and Manufacturing sectors. It will be managed by PIEDS (BITS Pilani) and supported through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation.
Through this initiative, MSDE and its partners aim to cultivate a culture of innovation and self-reliance within India’s skill ecosystem, empowering vocational students to become entrepreneurs and innovators rather than job seekers.
By fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and government, the program is expected to add a new dimension to India’s Skill India Mission, aligning technical education with the nation’s broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
