Bengaluru, Sept 25: Karnataka has rolled out its first-ever Skill Development Policy 2025–2032, aiming to transform the state into a global hub for skilled workforce and align with its ambitious vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2032.
The policy, approved in Thursday’s cabinet meeting, marks a milestone as Karnataka had no formal framework for skill development since the establishment of the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood (SDEL) in 2017.
Digital-First Skilling Approach
The new policy places a strong emphasis on digital technologies, AI-driven tools, and a unified digital portal for training, assessment, and career guidance. It also facilitates global workforce mobility through international certifications, migration support, and specialized training modules.
Vocational Education in Mainstream Learning
A key feature of the policy is the integration of credit-based vocational education into schools, colleges, and universities, ensuring skilling is embedded within the formal education system.
Highlights of Karnataka Skill Development Policy 2025–2032
- Industry collaboration: Strengthened apprenticeship models, ITI adoption, and industry-led training programmes.
- Lifelong learning: Focus on reskilling and upskilling to keep pace with rapid industrial and technological shifts.
- Social inclusion: Tailored interventions for women, marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, the urban poor, and informal sector workers.
- Infrastructure upgrade: Modernization of ITIs, expansion of Government Tool Room & Training Centres (GTTCs), and creation of rural and urban skilling hubs.
- Robust monitoring: 5% of scheme budgets allocated for monitoring and evaluation.
- Unified umbrella scheme: CMKKY 2.0 to integrate all state skilling programmes—Kalike Jothege Kaushalya, Nanna Vrutti Nanna Ayke, ILC, IMC-K, RPL, and special projects—under one life-cycle framework.
Bridging Fragmentation in Skilling
Until now, Karnataka’s skilling efforts were scattered across various departments, leading to fragmentation. The new policy brings these initiatives under a common strategy that connects education, employment, and industry while ensuring equity, inclusivity, and global competitiveness.
Dr. Sharanprakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, said the policy will streamline efforts and empower Karnataka’s youth with future-ready skills, while also enabling the state to meet domestic and international workforce demands.
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