The Cabinet Secretariat has directed major rural, agriculture, social and welfare ministries to design programmes in universities and colleges to build a youth movement towards making India an advanced economy.
The directions focus on youth, universities, technical and industrial training institutes, and agricultural universities. They also call for process reforms and deregulation in the pharmaceutical sector, keeping in view the rapidly evolving scientific environment.
The ministries have also been asked to identify gaps in rules, regulations, processes and systems to facilitate reforms.
Sources said the directions include preparing a model to improve employability and upskilling opportunities for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students, besides rejigging the method for awarding them degrees.
The ministries and departments were also encouraged to use domestic digital, artificial intelligence (AI) and messaging platforms such as Zoho, Sarvam and Arattai to ensure the safety of government data. The letter follows a high-level meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with secretaries of major social, agriculture and rural ministries.
Sources said the secretaries have also been asked to map demand for skilled human resources across sectors and tailor training programmes accordingly to meet global demand. One example discussed was linking the Northeastern states with Japan.
In addition, the ministries have been asked to focus on training youth in soft skills and digital technologies to improve their employment prospects overseas.
The secretaries were also told to place greater emphasis on developing construction firms capable of executing complex projects, while building domestic capacity to manufacture heavy and sophisticated machinery and equipment.
The secretaries were also told to place greater emphasis on developing construction companies capable of executing complex projects, while building capacity to manufacture heavy and sophisticated machinery and equipment.
With an eye on the 2036 Olympics, the secretaries were asked to encourage schools and colleges, as well as younger children, to showcase their achievements through sporting competitions and events at various levels. “Those who will participate in the 2036 Olympics are at present in the age group of 5-10 years and are in schools,” the communication from the Cabinet Secretariat said.
On agriculture, the secretaries were directed to examine the syllabus followed by agricultural universities across the country to assess whether it is aligned with the requirements of their respective agro-climatic zones or follows a general, common curriculum.
They were also directed to expand irrigation facilities, subject to certain conditions, including restrictions on water-intensive crops, to promote crop diversification. According to sources, officials were also asked to explore engaging senior citizens as mentors in ITIs by paying them an honorarium, along the lines of the professor-of-practice model under the National Education Policy.
Students of agricultural universities could also be trained and engaged in related schemes, such as installing solar panels along field boundaries to provide farmers with an additional assured source of income, the directive said.
According to sources, officials were also asked to explore engaging senior citizens as mentors in ITIs by paying them an honorarium, along the lines of the professor-of-practice model under the National Education Policy.
