Tata Motors, NESTS Join Hands to Empower Tribal Youth Through Skill Education

The five-year agreement, effective immediately, is expected to benefit more than 50,000 tribal students enrolled in EMRSs across 28 states and 8 union territories.

In a landmark initiative to promote inclusive development and unlock career opportunities for tribal youth, the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)—an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)—has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors Limited (TML) on July 9, 2025. This strategic partnership aims to create skill-linked education and employment pathways for Grade 12 students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), giving them a direct route into India's skilled workforce.

The five-year agreement, effective immediately, is expected to benefit more than 50,000 tribal students enrolled in EMRSs across 28 states and 8 union territories. It marks a significant step toward empowering marginalized communities, aligning closely with national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly those related to education (SDG 4), decent work (SDG 8), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).

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A Shared Vision for Tribal Upliftment Through Skill Development

The core mission of this collaboration is to transform the lives of tribal youth by equipping them with industry-relevant skills, recognized qualifications, and meaningful employment opportunities. The initiative will be executed through the Tata Motors Kaushalya Program, an award-winning vocational training and education program that blends academic learning with real-world industry exposure.

By integrating the program with the EMRS ecosystem, the partnership seeks to build a pipeline of skilled, confident, and self-reliant tribal youth, bridging the gap between education and employment.

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Key Objectives and Highlights of the Partnership

The MoU lays out a structured approach to transforming tribal education outcomes through the following objectives:

• Facilitating skill-linked educational pathways for tribal students completing Grade 12 from EMRSs.

• Enabling direct enrollment into Tata Motors Kaushalya Program, a structured vocational education model.

• Building sustainable livelihood avenues through targeted industry placements and higher education options.

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Eligibility and Selection Criteria for Students

To ensure the program reaches students with the highest potential for success, candidates must:

• Be between 18 and 23 years of age

• Have achieved a minimum of 60% marks in their 10th standard (SSC)

• Be enrolled in or graduating from Grade 12 at an EMRS

Students meeting these criteria will be selected for the "Earn & Learn" diploma program, which blends theory and practical learning under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).

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What the Kaushalya Program Offers

The Tata Motors Kaushalya Program is designed to combine education, training, and employment in a streamlined framework. Key features include:

• Diploma in Engineering from a university or technical institute, with weekly academic classes

• On-the-Job Training (OJT) at TML’s production, assembly, or service units across India

• Monthly stipends, in accordance with applicable laws

• Supportive services: subsidized canteen and transport, uniforms, PPE, and comprehensive health and accident insurance coverage

• Continuous evaluation through semester exams and skill assessments

• Higher education opportunities for top performers through self-funded or sponsored B.Tech programs (e.g., BITS Pilani Work-Integrated Learning Program - WILP)

• Guaranteed placement assistance post-completion under a "One Trainee, One Job" policy at Tata Motors’ various facilities

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Joint Oversight and Governance Mechanism

To ensure seamless implementation and transparency, a Joint Review Committee (JRC) will be constituted with members from both TML and NESTS. The committee will oversee:

• Enrollment and student engagement

• Curriculum and training delivery

• Monitoring of student performance

• Industry placements and post-training support

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Building an Ecosystem for Inclusive Growth

The partnership is seen as a powerful tool to reduce intergenerational poverty, increase representation of tribal youth in the organized workforce, and nurture future leaders from marginalized communities. Beyond technical skills, the program is also expected to cultivate soft skills, confidence, financial literacy, and digital competence.

Officials from both TML and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs have called the initiative a “game changer,” with the potential to reshape the developmental narrative in tribal areas by transforming students into skilled contributors to India's economy.

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Way Forward: A Model for Replication

The NESTS-TML MoU is being hailed as a model public-private partnership (PPP) in the field of education and skill development. As India pushes forward with its Skill India, Make in India, and Viksit Bharat @2047 agendas, this initiative stands as a beacon of inclusive innovation.

The Ministry has expressed optimism that this model will be replicated with other leading industry partners across sectors like automotive, electronics, green energy, manufacturing, and digital services, thereby expanding the reach and impact of EMRSs as incubators of 21st-century talent.

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A Pathway to Prosperity

The collaboration between NESTS and Tata Motors is more than just an MoU—it is a commitment to social equity, skill empowerment, and inclusive economic growth. By opening new doors for tribal students, it offers a future where talent is not limited by geography or socio-economic background, but nurtured to meet national and global workforce needs.

As this program unfolds, it is expected to transform thousands of lives, uplift tribal communities, and contribute to building a resilient, equitable, and skilled India.