How Technology Is Driving NSDC's Kill Development Mission

- Sudipta Dev

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) was set up as part of a national skill development mission to fulfil the growing need in India for skilled manpower across sectors and narrow the existing gap between the demand and supply of skills. Since its inception, NSDC has created significant capacity for vocational training in the country. “We have facilitated skills training for 1.9 crore individuals across grant-based (including the government’s flagship scheme the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) and fee-based training programs. Given the vast scale of the programs, we extensively utilise technology to achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness, streamline operations and strengthen coordination amongst various stakeholders,” says Dr Manish Kumar, Managing Director & CEO, NSDC. The key initiatives include Skill Development Management System (SDMS) and Skill Management & Accreditation of Training Centre (SMART), while technology interventions play a key role in initiatives like PMKVY, fee-based programs, promoting overseas mobility of skilled manpower, and others.

Skill Development Management System

The SDMS is a centralised database that tracks end-toend life cycle of trainees across NSDC’s various programs. Starting from mobilisation and enrolment, the platform captures data uploaded by NSDC Training Partners (TPs) on various aspects related to training, assessment, certification and placement. “The existing SDMS is being replaced by a newer, more advanced version – NextGen SDMS – which will have an even more comprehensive reporting capability. Various other platforms being used at NSDC are in the process of being integrated with this,” states Dr Kumar, adding that the NextGen SDMS will have an interface with other front-end systems, including those in the states, to provide a better picture of the skill development efforts across the country.