SRINAGAR: The Department of Skill Development, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, successfully concluded a two-day National Conference on “Transforming the Skilling Ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir” held on July 16–17, 2025, in Srinagar.
The conference brought together over 100 key stakeholders from across India—including senior government officials, industry leaders, academic experts, civil society representatives, and skilling professionals—to chart a unified and outcome-driven roadmap for skilling in J&K.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating sustainable skilling pathways aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat.
He calls it a moment to align skilling with the aspirations of our youth and the demands of a dynamic economy. He termed this workshop a deliberative forum where all national-level stakeholders put their heads together to give their inputs about framing a robust ‘Skill Vision Plan’ for J&K to implement over the next several years.
Key messages from the Chief Secretary’s address included the active involvement of industries in co-developing curricula. He also called for the introduction of vocational education at the school and college level.
Emphasising adaptability through the quote: “The illiterate of the future will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Secretary, Department of Skill Development, Shri Rajeev Ranjan, echoed these sentiments, stating that “The real challenge today is not unemployment, but unemployability.”
He underscored the need for aligning workforce skills with evolving market requirements and stressed that curriculum design must be integrated with delivery mechanisms for tangible outcomes.
Shahzad Alam, Director, Skill Development Department, played a key leadership role in steering the conference, ensuring cross-sectoral participation and driving forward the vision of a holistic skilling ecosystem.
The Conference Highlights constituted the strategic panels on Systemic Gaps and Market Alignment, Market Needs vs. Skill Gaps, Systemic Skilling Reform through Coordination, Apprenticeship to Placement, Innovation, Infrastructure, Curriculum for Future-Readiness, Human Resource Management in Skilling, Strengthening the role of Education Institutions, Tech Tools & Data Systems in Skilling, Skilling for Entrepreneurship
Key Themes Across the Conference include the current state of skilling infrastructure in J&K, Sector-wise skill-gap analysis, Alignment of curriculum with industry needs, Best practices in public-private partnership (PPP) model, among others.
One of the central outcomes of the conference was a structured consultation on a visionary skilling roadmap for Jammu & Kashmir. This roadmap envisions “Skills for All”—including students, women, and youth in rural areas. Building a supportive and collaborative ecosystem for the same in the times to come.
The roadmap aspires to position J&K as a national model for outcome-oriented, inclusive, and innovation-driven skilling. Key components include the proposed Skills University, digital integration of platforms, focus on green and emerging jobs, and synergy with MSMEs and entrepreneurship networks across the country.
