New Delhi: In a major move towards advancing digital design and make skills among faculty and trainers in National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India, Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Autodesk, an American multinational software corporation.
The initiative aims to strengthen the digital capabilities of trainers and educators, enhance employability skills in students, and prepare India’s workforce for the evolving needs of industries, such as architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and construction.
According to Autodesk’s State of Design and Make Report 2025, 52% of Indian organizations surveyed say that AI-related skills will be their top hiring priority in the future. Over the next three years, this partnership will align skill development with rapid advancements in AI, industry innovation, and emerging career pathways by combining Autodesk’s global Design and Make expertise with DGT’s national leadership in vocational education. Through this MoU with DGT, Autodesk will extend its professional-grade software to educators and students across more than 14,500 ITIs and 33 NSTIs, enabling instructors to skill the large number of young learners while strengthening digital design and manufacturing capabilities across India’s vocational ecosystem.
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Secretary MSDE, Smt. Debashree Mukherjee said, “This partnership with Autodesk will greatly enhance the capabilities of trainers across NSTIs and ITIs by integrating advanced design technologies into vocational education. Together, we aim to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry practices, enabling our trainers to deliver training that meets global quality benchmarks and supports India’s journey toward becoming a hub for skilled, technology-driven talent.”
Speaking on the occasion, President and CEO, Autodesk, Mr. Andrew Anagnost said, “Autodesk is proud to support India’s vision of becoming a global leader in skilled talent. Our partnership with DGT is about empowering educators and students with the advanced digital tools and industry-relevant learning they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As AI transforms design and manufacturing, the demand for AI-ready talent is greater than ever. By strengthening India’s skill development in advanced design and make technology, we’re helping build a workforce that’s ready for opportunities today and in the future.”
The initiative will involve the joint development of educational programs, curriculum, learning activities and leveraging Autodesk’s technology. This collaboration reflects Autodesk’s continued commitment to supporting India’s Skill India Mission and advancing the use of digital design technology in education and vocational training.
The MoU was exchanged at a ceremony today that was held in the presence of Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE; Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, Deputy Director General, DGT and other senior officials from MSDE and Andrew Anagnost, President and CEO, Autodesk, Steve Blum, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Autodesk, Haresh Khoobchandani, VP, APAC & Japan, Autodesk, and Kamolika Gupta Peres, Vice President, India & SAARC, Autodesk.
