During his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhanshu, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), inaugurated the Skills4Future EV & Green Skills Lab at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Chennai. The lab has been established under Shell India's Skills4Future programme in partnership with the Directorate General of Training (DGT). The visit also included a comprehensive review of the implementation and progress of PM-SETU in Tamil Nadu.

The EV & Green Skills Lab has been designed to provide hands-on training in electric vehicle systems, battery technologies, diagnostics, safety practices, and other emerging green technologies. The facility aims to strengthen practical learning and enhance employability opportunities for youth in the rapidly growing sectors of sustainable mobility and clean energy.

During the visit, the Additional Secretary interacted with trainees, instructors, industry representatives and officials from the skilling ecosystem. He reviewed the progress of PM-SETU initiatives in Tamil Nadu and emphasised the importance of strong industry partnerships in ensuring high-quality, outcome-oriented skill development aligned with emerging employment opportunities. He also highlighted the role of apprenticeship in strengthening the talent pipeline for MSMEs.

Inauguration of the Skills4Future EV & Green Skills Lab at NSTI Chennai

Interaction with industry and skilling ecosystem stakeholders during the visit

Speaking on the occasion, the Additional Secretary, MSDE, said: "India's transition towards a greener economy requires a workforce equipped with future-ready skills. Industry-government collaborations such as Skills4Future are helping create pathways for youth to access emerging career opportunities in electric mobility, clean energy and allied sectors while supporting the nation's sustainable development goals."

The Skills4Future programme supports the expansion of EV and green-skills training through government-industry collaboration. The initiative combines hands-on training, industry-relevant curriculum and dedicated learning infrastructure to strengthen vocational training for emerging opportunities in electric mobility and the green economy.

Mr. Gopendra Bahadur, Vice President - Finance, Shell India, who was present at the inauguration, said:"At Shell, we believe every young person should have the opportunity to build a successful career. Through investments in EV and green skills training, industry partnerships and hands-on learning infrastructure, we are helping equip youth with future-ready skills that improve employability and create pathways to emerging careers."

The inauguration of the EV & Green Skills Lab at NSTI Chennai marks another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between MSDE, DGT and Shell India, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening the skilling ecosystem and preparing India's youth for opportunities in the green economy.

About PM-SETU

Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) is a Government of India initiative for industry-linked modernisation of 1,000 Government ITIs and capacity augmentation of five NSTIs as National Centres of Excellence. It aims to strengthen training quality, trainer development, modern infrastructure and employment relevance through deeper industry participation.

About NSTI Chennai

NSTI Chennai functions under the Directorate General of Training, MSDE, and offers instructor training, craftsmen training and short-term advanced vocational training. Located in Guindy Industrial Estate, it is being developed under PM-SETU Component II as one of five National Centres of Excellence, with emphasis on industry partnership, emerging technologies and trainer development.

For more information, please contact:

MSDE: https://www.msde.gov.in/

PM-SETU / NSTI Chennai NCoE & RFP: https://nstichennai.dgt.gov.in/what-s-new

NSTI Chennai: https://nstichennai.dgt.gov.in/

X (Twitter): @MSDESkillIndia

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