NCVET Establishes RAC to Strengthen Evidence-Based Skill Development Policies

The inaugural meeting saw participation from several prominent institutions and organisations involved in labour policy, skill development, education and economic research.

The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), operating under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has convened the first meeting of its newly formed Research Advisory Committee (RAC), marking a major step toward institutionalising research-driven and evidence-based policymaking in India's vocational education and training ecosystem.

The meeting was chaired by Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Chairperson of NCVET, and brought together leading experts from government, academia, industry, think tanks and research organisations.

Broad Participation from Government, Academia and Industry

The inaugural meeting saw participation from several prominent institutions and organisations involved in labour policy, skill development, education and economic research.

Representatives included experts and officials from:

• NITI Aayog

• Ministry of Labour and Employment

• Directorate General of Training (DGT)

• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta

• National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

• Ashoka University

• National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA)

• Young Lives India

Officials said the broad-based participation reflects the government's commitment to building a collaborative and multidisciplinary research ecosystem for vocational education and skill development.

Committee Focuses on Future-Ready Skill Ecosystem

The Research Advisory Committee deliberated extensively on defining short-term, medium-term and long-term priorities to guide the future direction of research and policy in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

Key focus areas discussed during the meeting included:

• Strengthening institutional collaboration

• Consolidating research efforts across organisations

• Enhancing regulatory effectiveness

• Expanding knowledge-sharing initiatives

• Promoting evidence-based policymaking

• Improving labour market analysis

• Increasing state participation in policy forums

The Committee also highlighted the need for comprehensive frameworks related to:

• Skill gap analysis

• Emerging technologies

• Integrated skilling solutions

• Youth participation in the skilling agenda

Officials informed that the Committee will meet quarterly to review progress and define future priorities.

Dedicated Research Division to Be Established Within NCVET

The Research Advisory Committee has been constituted to guide the establishment and operationalisation of a dedicated Research Division within NCVET.

According to officials, the proposed Research Division is envisioned as a national knowledge and research hub focused on vocational education and skill development.

The Division will support:

• Policy formulation

• Regulatory reforms

• Quality assurance

• Labour market intelligence

• Assessment systems

• Data-driven governance

The initiative reflects growing recognition that credible research and reliable data are essential for building a responsive and globally competitive skilling ecosystem.

Debashree Mukherjee Stresses Importance of Data-Driven Policies

Addressing the meeting, NCVET Chairperson Smt. Debashree Mukherjee highlighted the growing importance of research and data-driven insights in shaping India's future-ready workforce policies.

"As India moves towards becoming a global skill capital, research and data-driven insights will play a critical role in shaping responsive and future-ready skilling policies," she said.

She further noted that the Research Division is envisioned as a key institutional mechanism that will support:

• Innovation

• Quality assurance

• Long-term strategic planning

• Evidence-based governance

Mukherjee emphasised that India's rapidly evolving economy requires vocational education systems that are adaptive, technologically aligned and globally benchmarked.

NCVET Highlights Need for Globally Benchmarked Systems

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Gaba, Executive Member of NCVET, described the establishment of the Research Advisory Committee as a significant milestone for India's skilling ecosystem.

"The establishment of the Research Advisory Committee is a significant step towards creating a robust evidence base for India's skilling ecosystem," he stated.

He added that a dedicated research framework within NCVET would help:

• Strengthen regulatory systems

• Improve policy decisions

• Enhance vocational education quality

• Align Indian skill systems with global standards

Officials noted that evidence-based governance is increasingly important in ensuring that skill development initiatives remain relevant to changing labour market demands.

Research Division Approved Earlier in 2026

The establishment of the NCVET Research Division had already received in-principle approval during the:

12th Meeting of the NCVET Council held in January 2026

The proposal was later ratified by the General Body of NCVET.

The newly constituted Research Advisory Committee will now provide strategic guidance in:

• Defining research priorities

• Strengthening collaborations

• Promoting institutional partnerships

• Aligning with global best practices

Growing Importance of Research in Skill Development

Officials stated that the initiative reflects India's broader push toward strengthening the quality, credibility and responsiveness of vocational education through institutionalised research.

Experts believe future vocational education systems will increasingly depend on:

• Labour market forecasting

• Real-time data analysis

• Emerging technology integration

• Industry-linked curriculum design

• Evidence-based policy frameworks

The Committee's discussions also reflected growing recognition that India's demographic advantage can only be effectively leveraged through high-quality, research-backed skilling policies.

India Positioning Itself as Global Skill Capital

The initiative aligns with India's long-term vision of becoming a major global hub for skilled manpower and workforce development.

Officials stated that the Research Division and RAC will help ensure that vocational education systems remain aligned with:

• Industry needs

• Technological advancements

• Future employment trends

• Youth aspirations

• International standards

The institutionalisation of research within NCVET is expected to significantly strengthen India's vocational education and training ecosystem while supporting innovation, quality assurance and globally competitive workforce development.