NCVET Launches Research Advisory Committee to Build Evidence-Based Skilling Ecosystem in India

New Delhi, May 20, 2026: The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has convened the first meeting of its Research Advisory Committee (RAC), marking a significant step towards institutionalising research-driven governance in India’s vocational education and training ecosystem.

The meeting was chaired by Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE and Chairperson, NCVET, and brought together senior representatives from government bodies, academic institutions, industry organisations, and leading research institutions including NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), IIM Calcutta, NCAER, TISS, Ashoka University, NIEPA, and Young Lives India, among others.

The primary focus of the deliberations was to define short-term, medium-term, and long-term priorities for strengthening India’s skilling ecosystem through structured research and evidence-based policymaking. The committee emphasised the need to enhance institutional collaboration, consolidate fragmented research efforts, and improve regulatory effectiveness within the vocational education sector.

Members also discussed expanding knowledge-sharing platforms through academic journals, conferences, and expert lecture series, along with increasing participation from states to ensure more inclusive and decentralised policy development. The importance of skill gap analysis, integration of emerging technologies, and incorporation of youth perspectives into skilling strategies was also highlighted during the meeting.

The RAC has been established to guide the creation and operationalisation of a dedicated Research Division within NCVET. This division is envisioned as a national-level knowledge hub for vocational education and skill development, supporting policy formulation, regulatory reforms, quality assurance frameworks, labour market analysis, and assessment systems through credible and data-driven research.

Officials stated that the Research Division will play a crucial role in aligning India’s skilling ecosystem with global best practices while ensuring that policies remain responsive to evolving labour market demands and technological advancements.

Speaking at the meeting, Smt. Debashree Mukherjee emphasized that India’s journey toward becoming a global skill capital requires robust research foundations. She noted that evidence-based policymaking will be essential for building a future-ready skilling ecosystem capable of adapting to rapid economic and technological changes.

Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Gaba, Executive Member, NCVET, highlighted that the establishment of the Research Advisory Committee represents a major step toward strengthening the empirical foundation of India’s vocational training system. He noted that a structured research framework will improve policy outcomes and help build globally competitive vocational education standards.

The establishment of the Research Division was approved in principle during the 12th NCVET Council meeting held in January 2026 and later ratified by the General Body of NCVET. The Advisory Committee will now guide its strategic direction, research priorities, and collaborative frameworks.

The initiative reflects the government’s broader commitment to improving the quality, credibility, and responsiveness of India’s skilling ecosystem through institutionalised research, innovation, and evidence-based governance.