NITI Aayog Working Paper titled "States' Framework: Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers", released in May 2026, highlights that India has the world's largest overseas migrant population of 18.5 million and underlines the need to strengthen skilling and institutional mechanisms to meet global labour demand. The Working Paper serves as a guiding framework for strengthening overseas employment and mobility systems.

The Ministry of External Affairs has shared data on 25 priority countries, along with the sectors and job roles in these countries facing labour shortages.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is undertaking the following measures to impart the necessary skills to Indian workers for international opportunities, and to align skill development programmes with country-specific overseas labour market requirements:

i. Agreements/ MoUs: MSDE has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 8 countries — Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Qatar, Singapore and the UAE — for technical exchanges and collaborative training programmes. MSDE is also facilitating deployment of workers to Israel and Mauritius under temporary labour recruitment agreements signed by MEA with these countries. To strengthen India's skills and TVET ecosystem, MSDE has signed an MoU with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and has launched the India Skills Accelerator. Separately, MEA has signed 22 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements/Labour Mobility Agreements, of which 9 — with Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mauritius and the UK — include specific skill development provisions.

ii. Training Programmes in Collaboration with Foreign Countries: MSDE is implementing programmes such as the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) with Japan, to facilitate skilling for mobility in healthcare, hospitality and other sectors. Additionally, the Indo-German Green Skills Programme (IGGSP) with Germany aims to skill and certify youth in green technologies in line with international standards.

iii. Skill India International Centres (SIICs): In line with the Budget announcement for FY 2023-24, MSDE has operationalised 7 Skill India International Centres so far at Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Ludhiana, and Varanasi offering Pre-Departure Orientation Training, language training and cultural/soft-skills orientation to prepare workers for overseas employment.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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