Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), the apex body for skill development in the Indian automotive sector, has announced two major leadership appointments aimed at accelerating India’s skilling readiness in emerging mobility technologies. Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Head – Corporate Affairs at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI), has been appointed Vice Chairperson, while Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey, Former CEO of Tata Green Batteries and ASDC Governing Council Member, has been appointed Treasurer.
With nearly 35 years of experience in the automotive industry, Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj has contributed extensively to customer service, brand strategy, motorsports, road safety, and policy advocacy. He actively represents industry interests through leadership roles including Co-Chair of the SIAM Skilling Group, and core group memberships under the Ministry of Heavy Industry for the Automotive Mission Plan III and Augmenting Tool Rooms for the Auto Sector. His appointment strengthens ASDC’s strategic vision at a time when the mobility sector is witnessing rapid transformation driven by electrification, digitalisation, and sustainability. Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey, brings 28+ years of leadership experience from the automotive and auto-component industry. A strong advocate of technician empowerment, safer roads, and customer rights, he has actively contributed through platforms such as FICCI, CII, and ACMA. His financial and strategic leadership is expected to further strengthen ASDC’s role in developing a robust, future-ready skilling ecosystem aligned with green mobility and new-age technologies.
Welcoming the appointments, Vinkesh Gulati, Chairperson, ASDC, said the addition of two senior industry leaders would significantly strengthen the Council’s mission. “Their combined expertise—spanning manufacturing, sustainability, road safety, skilling and industry policy—will help shape a future-ready automotive workforce for India,” he said. Reacting to his appointment, Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj said skilling would be central to India’s mobility transition. “As the sector undergoes unprecedented change, I look forward to working with partners to build competencies that support India’s mobility transformation,” he said.
Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey said: “As a nation, we must make skills aspirational,” while he was welcomed in the 1st GC meeting. He added “We must shift from the obsession of degrees & designations to celebration of skills and dignity of Purpose as our identity.” This philosophy will continue to guide the next chapter of his leadership journey at ASDC.
