Indo-French MoU and Major Industry Partnerships Announced for Skill Development

New Delhi: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship celebrated 10-years of Skill India Mission, Bharat Skill Nxt 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event celebrated the mission’s achievements and unveiled a futuristic roadmap for India’s skilling ecosystem.

The event witnessed the exchange of multiple high-impact MoUs that reaffirmed the government’s commitment to public-private and international collaborations. Notable among these was the MoU between MSDE and the Government of the French Republic.

After signing the MoU, HE Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France, said, “Rooted in mutual respect and people-to-people exchanges, Indo-French partnership in the field of vocational education and skill development reflects a shared vision for the future. Today’s MoU is not merely a document—it is a bridge between two nations committed to empowering youth, building resilient economies, and promoting social mobility through skill-based learning. As India moves forward to train millions under the Skill India Mission, and France continues to advance its ambitious training policies, our collaboration opens up new frontiers. From joint curricula to Centres of Excellence, from talent exchange to innovation-led training, we are laying the foundation of a future-ready workforce. This partnership reflects our conviction that skills are not just tools for employment—they are instruments of dignity, progress, and global harmony.”

The MoUs included partnerships between NSTI Bangalore and SLN Technology under the DST scheme, NSTI Mumbai and ICICI Foundation for rural incubation, and a series of Flexi MoUs between RDSDEs and prominent industry and academic institutions, including Dixon Technologies, Microsoft, HCL, Apollo MedSkills, and premier institutions like IIT Patna, IIIT Una, RRU Gandhi Nagar, IIT Hyderabad, and NIT Agartala under PMKVY’s institutional strengthening strategy.

Some other partnerships announced on that day included 

• RDSDE Telangana under the DGT and Apollo MedSkills, the healthcare skilling arm of Apollo Hospitals to deliver industry-relevant and job-oriented training programs in the healthcare and allied sectors, with a special focus on enhancing the employ ability of youth from rural areas.
• SLN Technology under the DST scheme under MSDE, for a “Semiconductor Technician” course at NSTI Bangalore. Implemented under the Dual System of Training with SLN Technologies, the program aims to skill youth in advanced electronics.
• Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Una, to strengthen industry-aligned skill development. As an Institute of National Importance (INI), IIIT Una will offer high-quality, aspirational training in emerging job roles. Under PMKVY 4.0, it will train 120 candidates in Una, Himachal Pradesh, focusing on the Electronics and IT-ITeS sectors—specifically as Electrical Technicians and Software Programmers—supporting the region’s deep-tech and digital workforce needs.
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad, to enhance vocational training aligned with industry needs. As an Institute of National Importance, IIT Hyderabad will serve as a training partner under PMKVY 4.0, delivering high-quality courses and curriculum updates. In Sangareddy, Telangana, it will train 280 candidates in Electronics, Hydrocarbon, and Capital Goods sectors, with roles such as CNC Programmer, AI–ML Engineer, and Green Hydrogen technologist.
• IIT Patna to drive industry-aligned skilling through an Institute of National Importance. Under PMKVY 4.0, IIT Patna will train 1,440 candidates in Patna, Bihar, across sectors such as Agriculture, Green Jobs, Electronics, and Healthcare. Proposed job roles include Kisan Drone Operator, EV Service Technician, Biomass Depot Operator, Elderly Caretaker, and AR/VR Engineer—supporting sustainable, inclusive, and tech-enabled development in the region.
• NIT Agartala to enhance skilling through a blend of traditional and tech-driven job roles. As an Institute of National Importance, NIT Agartala will train 370 candidates in West Tripura under PMKVY 4.0. The training will span sectors like Automotive, Electronics, Handicrafts, and IT-ITeS, with roles including Automotive IoT Technician, CNC Programmer, Bamboo Work Artisan, and AI–Data Scientist—supporting inclusive and future-ready workforce development.
• Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) to strengthen skill development through an Institute of National Importance. Under PMKVY 4.0, RRU will train 240 candidates in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, across sectors like Beauty & Wellness, Electronics, IT-ITeS, and Management. The proposed job roles—Yoga Wellness Trainer, AI & Cyber security Associate, IoT Associate, and Fire Safety Officer—combine digital, wellness, and safety-focused skills to build a future-ready and holistic workforce.