Artificial Intelligence (AI) related Qualifications from multiple Awarding Bodies for inclusion under the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) umbrella have been approved by the National Skills Qualifications Committee (NSQC) at its 45th meeting held on 6th February in New Delhi. The SOAR initiative has been aligned as a pre-event to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, reinforcing India’s focus on preparing a future-ready workforce for the AI-driven economy. In addition, the Qualifications related to India Skills/ World Skills were also ratified for upcoming competitions.
The Committee placed special emphasis on outcome-based and competency-driven design, quality benchmarks, curriculum relevance, assessment rigor, and industry validation. The approved qualifications are expected to provide learners with job-ready skills, industry-relevant certifications, and clear pathways for vertical and horizontal mobility within the skilling and education ecosystem.
Led by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Chairperson, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), the meeting deliberated on proposals under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) with the objective of strengthening the quality, relevance and industry alignment of vocational qualifications across the country.
A total of 15 Awarding Bodies presented their Qualifications before the Committee. In all, 80 Qualifications were considered, covering proposals from Awarding Bodies including Central Ministries/Departments and national institutions such as Directorate General of Training (DGT), Directorate General of Artillery, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), National Academy of RUDSETI, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), along with various Sector Skill Councils.
The Qualifications span priority and high-growth sectors including automotive, electronics, IT-ITeS, healthcare, life sciences, aerospace, logistics, construction, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, green jobs, and emerging technologies. New and updated qualifications have also been introduced to address skills requirements in medical tourism, the unorganized economy, and allied services, thereby expanding access to structured skilling and improving employability for diverse learner groups.
