UP eyes ‘skill capital’ tag with tech-driven training push

Gorakhpur: By aligning vocational training with modern technology, industry demand and digital innovation, Uttar Pradesh govt is stepping up efforts to transform the state into country’s largest skill hub.

At a ‘Samvad’ programme organised by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) at a hotel in Gorakhpur on Tuesday, govt officials, industry representatives and private ITI operators discussed ways to strengthen employment-oriented and future-ready skill training for youth.

Chairing the event, minister of state (independent charge) for vocational education, skill development and entrepreneurship Kapil Dev Aggarwal said govt is focusing on a “skill-to-employment” model to ensure training leads directly to jobs. He said 150 govt ITIs have been upgraded in partnership with Tata Technologies, introducing courses in AI, robotics, drone technology, advanced designing and modern manufacturing. Another 62 ITIs will soon be added to the project, he said.

Aggarwal added that UP currently has over 300 govt and 3,000 private ITIs and recorded the country’s highest apprenticeship
enrolment last year, with more than 1 lakh youths linked to apprenticeship programmes. Principal secretary Hari Om stressed the need to integrate skill-based education with traditional learning to meet rapidly changing industrial requirements, while UPSDM mission director Pulkit Khare highlighted initiatives such as ‘Project Praveen’, AI chatbot ‘Kaushal Dost’ and online learning platform ‘Kaushal Disha’.