In a landmark development, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, has officially recognized the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an Autonomous Body under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as an Awarding Body (Dual Category).

The agreement, aimed at strengthening the vocational education and training landscape in the social sector (Geriatrics), was signed in the presence of Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE and Chairperson, NCVET. This collaboration between NISD and NCVET is a critical step toward India’s social sector, ensuring that a pool of talented workforce is well-equipped to meet the demand and challenges in the welfare of senior citizens.

This recognition means that NISD can award, assess and certify the learners where training is directly being imparted by the Awarding Body in campuses or training centers owned or fully managed by it, for its approved or adopted qualifications. Its recognition as an awarding body will help standardize and accredit its specialized training programmes, aligning them with national and global frameworks, and facilitating greater integration with key national initiatives like Skill India Mission.

Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE and Chairperson, NCVET, emphasized the growing need for a skilled workforce in the dynamics of demographic changes in India’s ageing population. He also emphasized the importance to build a highly skilled pool of the geriatric workforce which can bridge the gap in the field of healthcare for senior citizens. With the increasing ageing population and the growing demand of the skilled geriatric workforce across the world, it is more important than ever to ensure that our workforce meets international standards” he said.

Ms. Monali P. Dhakate, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Sh. Praveen Thind, Director National Institute of Social Defence, represented the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment during the signing of the agreement. Ms. Dhakate expressed her enthusiasm about the dual recognition, stating that this recognition marks a significant milestone in our efforts to build a skilled geriatric workforce for the growing need of the ageing population. By aligning our training programs with the demands in this sector, we aim to create a talented workforce in the field of geriatrics with the necessary knowledge and hands-on expertise to support the nation’s needs and compete globally.

NISD is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defence. NISD focuses on human resource development in the areas of drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens and transgenders, beggary prevention, and other social defence issues.
The NCVET, serving as the national regulator for vocational education and training, plays a vital role in setting standards, developing regulations, and improving the quality and outcomes of skilling initiatives across the country. It is responsible for the recognition and regulation of awarding bodies and assessment agencies that are instrumental in developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry demands.

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