What happened: maritime-sector skilling under Skill India Mission and port/shipbuilding capacity steps

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) announced maritime-sector skilling steps under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM). MSDE stated that SIM delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through a network of skill development centres and institutes using schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). MSDE also cited SIM training for youth across India, including youth in Kasaragod.

For maritime seafarer training and certification, MSDE linked training standards to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention for seafarers. MSDE highlighted Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) actions that operationalise STCW-aligned training in India through approvals of Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs), approved maritime training course lists, and the Training, Examination and Assessment Programme (TEAP) manual. MSDE also reported a common course for Maritime Training Institute faculties named Vertical Integration Course for Trainers.

MoPSW reported parallel actions for coastal youth in the ports, shipping and waterways sector. MoPSW stated that its steps strengthen maritime education and training, upgrade curriculum in maritime institutes, and support industry-oriented skill programmes in the port sector and logistics.

Key elements and figures reported by MSDE

Under PMKVY, MSDE reported training in logistics and maritime-related job roles. MSDE listed job roles including Documentation Assistant, Consignment Booking Assistant, Consignment Tracking Executive, Courier Delivery Executive, Signalman Port Operation, Vessel Operator Grade-1, Marine Capture Fisherman and Protective & Marine Painter, among others.

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