MSDE Launches National Innovation Drive for NSTI Students with BITS, ABCF

In a landmark move to foster grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship within India's vocational training ecosystem, the Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has partnered with the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF) and the Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS)—the incubation arm of BITS Pilani—to launch a nationwide initiative aimed at nurturing innovative thinking among students of National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs).

This initiative marks a major step toward integrating entrepreneurial training and incubation support into the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, a domain traditionally focused on direct employment and technical skill acquisition.

Introducing Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita

The flagship program—Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita—has been conceptualized as the first-of-its-kind national innovation challenge tailored specifically for the 10,000+ students enrolled across 33 NSTIs in India. The initiative aims to encourage students pursuing courses under the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) to transform their technical knowledge and vocational expertise into viable business ventures.

Bridging the Gap in Innovation Support for TVET Learners

While India has witnessed a surge in innovation and entrepreneurship support across school and higher education levels—thanks to initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission, Startup India, and university incubators—similar opportunities have remained largely absent for students in the TVET ecosystem, which includes more than 1.3 million learners across Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and NSTIs.

This collaboration directly addresses that gap by:

• Encouraging entrepreneurial mindsets among vocational students

• Providing mentoring, prizes, and incubation opportunities

• Facilitating access to seed funding, startup resources, and prototyping labs

• Creating opportunities for mainstreaming skill-based innovations

Sectors Targeted for Innovation

The innovation challenge will focus on fostering ideas in high-impact sectors where technical skill meets enterprise potential, including:

• IT and ITeS (Information Technology Enabled Services)

• Automotive and Electric Mobility

• Electronics & Hardware

• Apparel and Textile Design

• Power and Renewable Energy

• Capital Goods and Manufacturing

These sectors not only align with national skill development priorities but also offer fertile ground for product and process innovations that can be commercialized or scaled regionally and nationally.

A New Vision for Skilled India

Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, expressed the Ministry's commitment to turning skilled individuals into job creators:

"At the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, we believe that every skilled individual carries within them the potential to become a job creator. Through this partnership with the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, we are enabling NSTI students to channel their technical skills into innovation and enterprise."

She emphasized that Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha is not just a competition but a capacity-building platform that supports India's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat—a self-reliant, innovation-led economy powered by its skilled youth.

PIEDS and ABCF: Nurturing Innovation at the Grassroots

The challenge will be managed by PIEDS, the official incubator of BITS Pilani, known for its expertise in entrepreneurship development, mentoring, and innovation incubation. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment, the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation is backing the initiative financially and programmatically, ensuring the resources reach deserving students.

Together, the trio—DGT, PIEDS, and ABCF—will provide:

• Structured mentorship and bootcamps for selected innovators

• Access to design thinking and startup acceleration tools

• Opportunities to pitch to investors and venture funds

• Support for prototype development and market validation

Inclusive Innovation for Women in NSTIs

A special emphasis is being laid on inclusive innovation through the NSTI(W) network—National Skill Training Institutes for Women. These institutes, which offer women-focused vocational training, will be active participants in the challenge, ensuring that female innovators receive equal opportunity, visibility, and access to entrepreneurial resources.

A Paradigm Shift in Vocational Training

Traditionally, TVET graduates in India have been oriented toward employment in industry, or self-employment in traditional trades. With this new initiative, the Ministry is redefining vocational training as a launchpad for entrepreneurial success, aiming to elevate skill-based enterprise creation as a viable and aspirational career path.

This also aligns with:

• Startup India's goal to create a robust startup ecosystem

• Skill India's mission to equip youth with job-ready and entrepreneurial skills

• National priorities for inclusive, innovation-driven economic development

Looking Ahead

As the Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha challenge kicks off in NSTIs across the country, thousands of young minds will be mentored and motivated to think like innovators, act like entrepreneurs, and eventually build ventures that solve real-world problems using the skills they've acquired through vocational training.

This collaboration is not just about launching startups—it is about seeding a culture of innovation in a sector that plays a crucial role in the economic empowerment of India's workforce.