(a) whether there is a need to bridge the skill gap among college students in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to establish adequate number of institutes to study pure sciences; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The 12th Five Year Plan envisages that the quality and relevance of skill development is the key to India’s global competitiveness as well as for improving an individual’s access to decent employment.
Under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) of National Skill Development Agency of the Government of India and National Occupational Standards prescribed by National Skill Development Council (NSDC) and its Sector Skill Councils, this Ministry launched the Community College Scheme in 200 institutions on pilot basis in 2013, in the existing universities/degree colleges by University Grants Commission (UGC) and in polytechnics by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), in the country. Trades in areas of automobile, retail, IT & ITeS, tourism & hospitality management, beauty & health care, building construction & technology, etc. are some of the major vocations being offered.
In so far as degree colleges are concerned, in addition to the Community College Scheme, the UGC has informed that it has approved skill-based B.Voc degree programme in 127 universities/degree colleges in the country. The vocations offered by these degree colleges will now get aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). Similarly, AICTE has informed that it conducts a programme called the Employability Enhancement Training Programme (EETP) with BSNL to train students of Electronics & Communications. The AICTE has also initiated a programme called National Employability Enhancement Mission (NEEM) to offer on the job practical training to enhance employability of a person either pursuing his or her graduation/diploma in any technical or non-technical stream or a person who has discontinued studies of degree/diploma courses.
(c) & (d): For the promotion of pure science and research, the Government has established the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) located at Kolkata, Pune, Bhopal, Mohali and Thiruvananthapuram.