CSIR Skill Initiative Trains 1.90 Lakh People Through 5,200 Programmes: Govt

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has trained over 1.90 lakh individuals through more than 5,200 skill-based programmes under its flagship CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, the government said on Friday. The figure represents training conducted cumulatively since the launch of the initiative across multiple phases, and not the number trained in a single year.

The initiative is aligned with India’s national priorities such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India , and aims to close the gap between scientific research and industry-ready talent. The Ministry of Science and Technology said the programme integrates skilling with science and technology by leveraging CSIR’s wide laboratory network, advanced R&D infrastructure, and scientific expertise , enabling hands-on learning in specialised and emerging domains.

Designed for inclusive participation, the programme caters to a wide range of beneficiaries including students, young researchers, working professionals, school dropouts, ITI and diploma holders, farmers and rural communities . Training is delivered through structured short-term and long-term modules, including internships, certification courses and laboratory exposure , allowing candidates to gain practical experience in real lab environments a key differentiator compared to conventional classroom-only skilling models.

The government said the initiative covers 18 out of 36 key sectoral skills identified under the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) . The training spans high-demand sectors such as aerospace and aviation, agriculture, automotive, construction, electronics, food processing, green jobs, healthcare, chemicals and petrochemicals, life sciences, textiles, IT and ITeS, mining , and entrepreneurship .

In its first two phases, the initiative implemented targeted training drives aimed at expanding access for women and rural citizens , supporting employability and livelihood creation in communities that often remain outside the reach of high-end technical skilling. The initiative’s value lies in using CSIR laboratories not only as research centres but also as skill-building hubs, especially relevant as India seeks a larger pool of trained technicians and technology-ready workers across sunrise sectors.

The third phase of the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative was formally launched in June 2025 by Dr N Kalaiselvi , Director General, CSIR, and Secretary, DSIR, with a renewed focus on advanced skilling , strengthening academia-industry linkages , and accelerating national development. During the first year of Phase III , the initiative trained more than 14,000 trainees through 425+ programmes conducted across 37 CSIR laboratories nationwide, the ministry said. The CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre ( HRDC ), Ghaziabad, continues to operate as the central nodal unit monitoring programme performance, coordination and impact evaluation.

Wider skill ecosystem context:

India’s skill development landscape has expanded rapidly through flagship central programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) , which focuses on short-term training and certification through approved centres under the skill development ecosystem. Apprenticeship-oriented skilling has also been pushed through schemes such as the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS/NAPS-2) , which supports establishments by providing partial stipend support to apprentices and promoting structured training under the Apprentices Act framework.

For rural youth, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) a placement-linked skilling programme of the Ministry of Rural Development continues to be one of the key national interventions focused on employability and wage employment outcomes.

Officials said CSIR’s initiative complements these larger programmes by adding a specialised layer of science-driven advanced training , which is increasingly important as demand grows for skills related to green jobs, healthcare technologies, industrial chemicals, electronics, and life sciences , besides entrepreneurship.

With continued focus on quality and relevance, the government said CSIR will further strengthen India’s skilled workforce and contribute to building a knowledge-based, self-reliant economy .