govt-urges-companies-to-set-up-skill-centres-in-house

The Indian government has called on companies to establish skill centres within their organisations to enhance the employability of young graduates and improve hiring prospects across industries.

 

This initiative aligns with the broader effort to equip the youth with necessary skills for better career opportunities.

 

Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, emphasised the importance of increasing the number of skilled individuals in the workforce.

 

She highlighted that the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS), launched in 2024, aims to provide skills training to 1.25 lakh young individuals in its pilot phase and expand to one crore over the next five years.

 

Speaking at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mukherjee noted the encouraging response from companies towards the initiative. She urged businesses to create in-house skilling cells to increase the number of employable professionals.

 

She also stressed that the PMIS internship programme has been integrated into corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, rather than being treated as a conventional human resources function, offering more flexibility to companies.

 

Under this scheme, industries stand to benefit from a workforce that is more job-ready, contributing to both their business growth and societal development.

 

Mukherjee pointed out that with 50 per cent of India’s population under the age of 28, harnessing the potential of the youth is essential. Without adequate skill development, this demographic dividend could become a challenge rather than an advantage.

 

She explained that the internship programme is designed to enhance teamwork and communication skills among young professionals. The government envisions the initiative as a collaborative effort involving industries, the government, and the youth.

 

Industry leaders have also acknowledged the pressing need for such initiatives. Harshavardhan Neotia, chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, remarked that many companies face challenges in hiring graduates who are job-ready.

 

He said that the PMIS offers a structured approach to improving employability and job creation.

 

Major corporations, including ITC, Emami, Reliance, and HDFC Bank, have already joined the programme. Under the PMIS framework, individuals aged between 21 and 24 are provided with 12-month internship opportunities in some of the country’s top 500 companies.