In a significant move to strengthen India’s vocational education and skilling ecosystem, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to deepen collaboration in skill development, vocational education and training.

Under the MoU, MSDE will work with the World Economic Forum to launch and implement a Skills Accelerator in India. The multistakeholder platform will focus on identifying, scaling and accelerating innovative solutions and public–private partnerships to address critical workforce skill gaps. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem by aligning skilling initiatives more closely with evolving industry needs and global labour market demand.

Commenting on the development, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of Education, Government of India, said, “What began as a strategic vision to align India’s skilling ecosystem with the future of work has now taken a structured and global form. The formalization of the India Skills Accelerator, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, marks a key milestone in building a future-ready, globally competitive workforce.”

Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education, Government of India, said, “I warmly welcome the landmark MoU between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and the World Economic Forum to launch the Skills Accelerator in India.” He added that the initiative aligns strongly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and will help bridge critical skill gaps while enhancing global employability of Indian youth.

The Accelerator will promote lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling, while encouraging flexible curricula, integration of vocational and higher education pathways, and mutual recognition of qualifications. MSDE will work closely with institutions and regulators such as AICTE and UGC to support implementation and scale.

The partnership also places strong emphasis on emerging future-of-work domains including artificial intelligence, green energy, robotics, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. Through this collaboration, MSDE aims to deepen global linkages and position India as a leading hub for skills, talent and innovation in line with Vision India@2047.