Skilling for Empowerment- Unlocking India’s 2047 Potential through Vocational Education

As India charts its course towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the role of vocational education emerges as a critical driver of inclusive growth. Despite a young and dynamic population, fewer than 5% of Indian youth have access to formal vocational or technical training, leaving a vast pool of potential untapped. This gap is particularly stark in rural and tribal regions, where social norms, financial barriers, and limited infrastructure restrict opportunities. 

In his article “Skilling for Empowerment – Unlocking India’s 2047 Potential through Vocational Education,” Mr. Vinod Kulkarni, Head of CSR, Tata Motors, argues that vocational training must evolve beyond a pathway to employment to become a catalyst for empowerment — one that combines technical knowledge with soft skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and inclusive program design.

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India’s vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is rooted in the principle of inclusive growth — a future where every citizen, regardless of geography, gender, or socio-economic background, has the opportunity to thrive. Central to this ambition is the need to equip our youth with the skills required to navigate and succeed in a rapidly evolving economy.

Despite the urgency, vocational training remains underutilized. As of 2023, less than 5% of Indian youth aged 15–29 had access to formal vocational or technical training. The gap is even wider in rural and tribal regions, where entrenched social norms, financial constraints, and limited infrastructure restrict access to skilling opportunities. Without targeted interventions, countless talented individuals remain on the margins — their aspirations unfulfilled, their potential untapped.

From Employment to Empowerment

To unlock India’s demographic dividend, vocational education must evolve from a tool for employment to a catalyst for empowerment. This means integrating technical skills with soft skills — communication, problem-solving, digital literacy — and fostering entrepreneurial thinking. For example, a young artisan who learns not only traditional craft techniques but also digital marketing can access wider markets, increase income, and preserve cultural heritage in a competitive landscape.

Empowerment also demands a shift in how skilling programmes are designed and delivered. They must be inclusive, accessible, and outcome-driven, especially for marginalized communities such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, nomadic tribes, and women. Positive discrimination focusing on enhancing employability of these groups is essential to ensure that skilling becomes a lever for social equity.

A Life Cycle Approach to Skilling

A strategic way forward is to adopt a human life cycle approach to skilling — one that connects education, employability, entrepreneurship, employment, and access to essential services. This integrated model ensures that individuals are not just trained, but supported throughout their journey toward self-reliance.

Some organizations have begun to demonstrate this shift. For instance, Tata Motors’ Kaushalya Programme combines on-the-job training with higher education — such as “Earn while Learn” models — are helping youth build both practical experience and academic credentials. Under schemes like the National Apprentice Promotion Scheme (NAPS), these efforts are further strengthened by structured pathways into direct and indirect employment across industry value chains.

Ground-Level Impact 

Real transformation requires a multi-stakeholder ecosystem — one that brings together industry, government, academia, and communities. Vocational training must be aligned with real-world opportunities and supported by long-term mentoring and career pathways. It must also be gender-sensitive and regionally adaptable, enabling youth from underserved areas to compete on equal footing with their urban peers.

A compelling example of this is the recent training and certification of an all-girls tribal batch in motor mechanics in Jharkhand— a milestone that not only challenged stereotypes but also demonstrated how targeted skilling can open doors to sustainable livelihoods. Such interventions, when scaled and sustained, can redefine empowerment at the grassroots level. 

A Call to Action 

It’s time to reimagine vocational education as a bridge — one that connects aspiration with opportunity, and training with transformation. For India to truly become a developed nation by 2047, vocational skills must enable individuals not just to earn a livelihood, but to fuel a future where every person has the tools to shape their destiny.

Empowerment through skilling is not just about jobs — it’s about dignity and inclusion. It’s about building a nation where no one is left behind.