Cabinet approves merger of NCVT, NSDA to form National Council for Vocational Education & Training

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 10, 2018 approved the merger of the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) to establish the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).

Once formed, the NCVET will regulate the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training, both long-term and short-term. It will establish minimum standards for the functioning of such entities.

National Council for Vocational Education and Training

• The Council will be headed by a Chairperson and will have Executive and Non-Executive Members.

• Since NCVET is proposed to be set up through merger of two existing bodies, the existing infrastructure and resources will be utilised for the most part.

• A few more posts will be created for its smooth functioning.

• It will follow the best practices of regulatory processes, which will help ensure that it performs its functions professionally and as per the applicable laws.

• NCVET is envisaged as an institution which will perform the regulatory functions so far vested in NCVT and NSDA.

• Regulatory functions currently being carried out by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) will also be housed in the NCVET.

Significance

This merger of existing regulatory institutions in the skills space will lead to improvement in quality and market relevance of skill development programs, lending credibility to vocational education and training.

This in turn will help achieve the twin objectives of enhancing aspirational value of vocational education, and increasing skilled manpower furthering the Prime Minister's agenda of making India the skill capital of the world.

NCVET will have a positive impact on each individual who is a part of vocational education and training in the country. This is also expected to facilitate the ease of doing business by providing a steady supply of skilled workforce to the industry and services.

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