ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces a national vocational qualifications framework (NVQF) in India that is widely supported among stakeholders and the relevant ministries of both the federal and state governments. It establishes the early frameworks emerged in industrialised Anglophone countries and South Africa and were followed by Anglophone developing countries. Under the influence of the European Qualifications Framework, EU countries and a growing number of countries in the European region are adopting comprehensive national qualifications frameworks (NQFs) that include vocational qualifications. The lack of progression possibilities together with a demand for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) that far exceeds supply are undoubtedly major barriers to skill development in India. In contrast, the most successful TVET systems, recognises the importance of the inputs of learning and involves partnerships between employers, the state, trade unions and TVET providers in determining the structure of programmes and the assessment for qualifications.
