As part of a high-profile initiative expected to boost employment readiness and help India’s changing industrial scene, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has declared establishing multiskill training centers in India. The ambitious project is expected to impart industry-specific skills to 7 to 36 million young people with focus on changing sectors like Electric Vehicles (EVs) and semiconductors.

The remark was made by the newly elected CII president for the fiscal year 2025–26, Rajiv Memani, during a New Delhi press conference. Memani is also chairman and CEO of EY India. He emphasized the key role of demand-based skill development in India. In his view, CII will use its healthy connectivity with the industry captains to fill the skills gap and develop a more work-force-readiness-oriented human resource.

Memani emphasized the need for skilling programs highlighting the fact that almost 65% of Indian workers have never undergone any kind of vocational training. This is the most critical issue in the informal economy, which accounts for more than 80% of India’s workforce. There is a critical need to convert this latent human resource into a skilled workforce suitable for the requirements of rapidly developing industries.

Expansion of reach of its Model Career Centres and setting up new Multi Skill Training Institutes are some of the key strategies being pursued by CII. The centres will provide industry-industry-specific, hands-on training with focus on market requirements at this juncture and create a pipeline of market-ready human beings. Even new fields like electronics, green technologies, automation, and advanced manufacturing will be addressed.

CII’s skilling strategy is rooted in systemic reforms that align workforce planning with regional and sectoral investment zones. The organization plans to introduce a National Demand Aggregation Mechanism, which will collect and analyze data to identify where skills are most needed. This will be supported by Sector-Region Workforce Plans that map industry requirements across various geographies. These are more likely to provide a harmonized skilling framework which is in close synchronization with India’s broader economic development objectives.

Another primary suggestion of CII is to include skilling in the nation’s investment pipeline. Memani emphasized that skilling must be invested in as part of fundamental infrastructure and not as a fringe activity. For that intention, pilot projects will be initiated in strategic locations of production and PLI-knit areas. The pilots will validate new models of training delivery tightly aligned with industry activity, allowing real-time learning and direct hiring.

The CII is also pushing for greater private sector participation and greater utilization of CSR funds for skilling. A Joint Skills Acceleration Fund has been proposed, where public, private, and CSR contributions would be combined. The fund would facilitate mass-scale training programs, particularly amongst informal sector workers who may not necessarily get a chance to access systemised learning.

Internships and apprenticeships are also important sectors where CII perceives room for growth. Memani was extremely enthusiastic about the PM Internship Scheme and said that the government is giving a serious push to popularize it. But he also said that the scheme can be streamlined with some adjustment to make it more effective as well as appealing to students and employers alike. CII will engage intensively with its industry stakeholders to promote and nurture this scheme through policy interventions and operational support.

A crucial component of CII’s skilling roadmap involves the creation of a relevant and modern pedagogy that keeps pace with technological advancements. Memani called for the involvement of industry experts in curriculum development to ensure that what is taught in classrooms reflects what is required in factories and laboratories. This approach would foster a balanced partnership between industry and academia, ensuring that skilling is both practical and forward-looking.

As India prepares to position itself in global supply chains, particularly in high-tech sectors like EVs and semiconductors, the need for high-quality manpower assumes prominence. The CII skilling program is therefore not only a social investment but an economic strategic imperative. By broadening its appeal to young people as many as 36 million, the Confederation is building the basis for a strengthened, more active, more adaptable, and more visionary workforce capable of confronting challenges and opportunities within the growing dynamic industrial environment.

With its roots of strength in government support, industry participation, and judicious application of CSR funds, the holistic approach of CII to skill development has the potential to revolutionize India’s employment landscape. It is a visionary strategy that puts skilling right at the center of economic progress and industrial competitiveness.