NABARD Invests ₹4 Crore in NSDC Social Stock Exchange Issue for Youth Skilling
Mumbai, October 24, 2026: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has subscribed ₹4 crore to the National Skill Development Corporation’s (NSDC) Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) issue listed on the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) Social Stock Exchange platform. The funding will support an overseas skilling and employment programme targeting 600 rural youth from Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities in Madhya Pradesh.
The initiative is being implemented by NSDC in partnership with the Government of Madhya Pradesh. It combines Social Stock Exchange funding, outcome-linked public financing and beneficiary participation to connect financial resources with measurable social outcomes.
The programme aims to prepare rural youth for employment opportunities in Japan and Germany by providing language training, domain-specific skill development, cultural orientation and certification. Participants will also receive assistance with overseas placement, documentation and deployment.
Unlike conventional skilling programmes that primarily measure training completion, the initiative focuses on verified employment outcomes, including actual overseas deployment, sustained employment and improvements in livelihoods. It aims to strengthen income prospects for rural households by connecting young people with opportunities in international labour markets.
The project will incorporate beneficiary-level monitoring, periodic reporting and independent outcome verification to track progress and ensure accountability. Its implementation will focus on measurable results rather than training outputs alone.
The listing also marks a development in the use of India’s Social Stock Exchange as a financing mechanism for social sector initiatives. Through its subscription, NABARD aims to support funding models that link financial resources with measurable development outcomes.
The initiative is expected to demonstrate how the Social Stock Exchange can help finance rural skilling, employability and livelihood programmes. If implemented successfully, the model could inform similar outcome-based financing approaches in areas such as rural entrepreneurship, climate resilience, women-led development, social inclusion and skill development.
By combining institutional finance with outcome measurement, the programme seeks to expand access to global employment opportunities for rural youth while strengthening accountability in development financing. It could also encourage greater participation by philanthropic institutions, development agencies, corporates and investors in financing social development initiatives.
