MSDE recognises 19 institutions as Centres of Excellence-Skills; IIT Roorkee among them

In order to improve advanced vocational training and industry-ready skill development, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has designated 19 institutions throughout India as centres of excellence-skills (CoE-Skills). MSDE secretary, Debashree Mukherjee presented the certificates during the ceremony on November 2.

The empanelment will remain valid for three years, from October 9, 2026, to October 8, 2029. The recognised institutions represent eight sectors, which include renewable energy, chemicals and petrochemicals, construction, defence, iron and steel, marine engineering, tourism and hospitality, and agriculture.

The institutions were selected through the ministry’s Green Channel mechanism, as the advanced way to approve the eligible organisations without nomination or the regular evaluation process. Under this process, applications are submitted directly to the Executive Committee for their consideration. 

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Role of ‘Centres of Excellence’

The initiative is to establish a network of  vocational training centres for providing industry-ready skills. These centres are expected to provide technical training, assessment, mentorship, career guidance and training for trainers and assessors.

At the recognition ceremony, Mukherjee said the empanelment would help in building a national network of institutions with proven expertise. She said the centres could be crucial in “strengthening industry linkages and improving outcomes for learners”.

The initiative also aims at making better use of the existing institutional infrastructure, equipment and trained personnel. Empanelled centres may participate in skill development programmes conducted by MSDE and other central ministries, state governments and industry partners, as per the applicable programme guidelines.

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Institutions across 8 sectors

The Hydro and Renewable Energy Department of IIT Roorkee, Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy, National Institute of Solar Energy and two two centres of National Institute of Wind Energy at Chennai and Kayathar are recognised under the renewable energy sector.

Five CIPET centres under the chemicals and petrochemicals category are in Guwahati, Sambhajinagar, Lucknow, Kochi and Bhubaneswar. From the construction sector, it is Indian Railways Institute of Civil Engineering, Pune.

World Skill Centre, National Institute of Hydrography, Defense Institute of Advanced Technology and Sant Shiromani Ravidas Global Skills Park are recognised under the multi-sectoral category.

Other recognised institutions are the National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology for iron and steel, INS Shivaji Premier Training Institute for Marine Engineers for marine engineering, Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Bhubaneswar for tourism and hospitality and the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad for agriculture.

The minister of state (independent charge) for skill development and entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, during the World Youth Skills Day event, unveiled  the guidelines for empanelment of CoE-Skills and vocational training centres.