IndiaSkills 2021 | 11 Jan 2022

For Prelims: IndiaSkills 2021, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

For Mains: Need for Skilling youth, related challenges and initiatives taken so far.

Why in News

IndiaSkills 2021 Nationals, the country’s biggest skill competition, concluded recently.

Key Points

    • About:
      • It is designed to demonstrate the highest standards of skilling and offers a platform to young people to showcase their talent at national and international levels.
      • IndiaSkills Competition is held every two years with the support of state governments and industry.
      • It has the potential to reach grassroot level and make an impact.
    • Participants:
      • 30 states and Union Territories (UTs) participated in the competition and showcased their skills in 54 skills, including seven new-age ones, in 2021.
        • Skill areas include beauty therapy, cyber security, floristry, robot system integration, cloud computing, water technology, painting and decorating, health and social care, among others.
    • Nodal Agency:
      • National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), working under the guidance of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
    • Performance of the States:
      • Odisha topped the chart followed by Maharashtra and Kerala.
        • The winners of IndiaSkills 2021 Nationals will get a chance to represent the country at WorldSkills International Competition to be held in Shanghai, China in October 2022.
    • Need of the Skill Development:
      • Unskilled Labour Force:
        • According to the UNDP’s Human Development Report-2020, only 21.1%of the labour force was skilled in the period 2010-2019 in India.
          • This dismal result is due to lack of cohesion within policy actions, absence of holistic approach and working in silos.
      • Tackle the Rising Unemployment:
        • India's unemployment rate reached an all-time high in 2020.
          • There were several factors responsible for this, including the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown.
      • Potential to contribute in the Economy:
        • According to the World Economic Forum report released in January 2021, investment in upskilling could potentially boost the global economy by USD6.5 trillion by 2030, and India's economy by USD570 billion.
        • India had the second-highest additional employment potential through upskilling as it could add 2.3 million jobs by 2030, second only to the US's 2.7 million jobs.

Source: PIB