ABSTRACT
India is one of the youngest nations in the world, with more than 54 per cent of the total population below 25 years of age. Five million youth join the labour force each year, looking for non-agricultural work. By 2030 (the terminal year to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals), substantial increase in the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, will be required for employment. The current annual skilling capacity in India is inadequate to match the skill demands of the labour market, although many initiatives have been taken by the governments to reduce the skill gap. A radical change in the skill development landscape is taking place with the involvement of private sector under the National Skills Qualification Framework. The challenge for Vocational Education and Training (VET) is to address the skill demands of the youth and adults in consonance with the changes in the nature of work, advancements in technology and for providing education and skills for driving inclusivity and sustainable development. This chapter discusses the challenges that the VET will face in promoting the agenda of achieving sustainable development goals by 2030 through innovative models of VET for youth skills development beyond schooling in India.
