Himachal strengthens technical education, boosts employment

Over 12,378 youth have been employed and 14,421 trained through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and SWAYAM platforms, highlighting the Himachal Pradesh government’s commitment to skill development, digital learning, and preparing its youth for future-ready careers.

A government spokesperson said here on Sunday that under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state has made remarkable progress in technical and vocational education. During Sukhu’s tenure, students have secured employment through job fairs, campus recruitments, and joint placement drives, while over 1,200 faculty members have benefited from digital learning initiatives via MOOCs and SWAYAM.

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“These initiatives reflect a focused effort to equip youth with the skills required for a technology-driven economy,” he added.

Technical and vocational institutions in Himachal Pradesh have evolved from traditional diploma and degree-awarding bodies into strategic engines of employment generation, industrial collaboration, innovation, and future-ready skills.

“The government’s reforms emphasise technology-integrated learning, modernised curricula, institutional capacity building, and strong industry linkages aligned with emerging technologies. These measures are already translating into measurable improvements in employability, entrepreneurship, and global competitiveness,” he said.

“Currently, the state operates a network of 348 technical and industrial training institutions, including engineering colleges, pharmacy colleges, polytechnics, and ITIs in both government and private sectors. The establishment of the Government Pharmacy College at Sulah and the Government Polytechnic at Jandaur expands access to quality technical education in underserved regions. Futuristic programmes such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, M.Tech in Electric Vehicle Technology, Internet of Things, Mechatronics, and 19 modern vocational trades in ITIs reflect a decisive shift towards skills aligned with the digital and industrial economy,” the spokesperson said, adding that quality assurance is ensured through national benchmarking.

Four undergraduate programmes at JLN Government Engineering College, Sundernagar, have been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation.

Drone Service Technician training has been launched in 11 government ITIs in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam, with 128 trainees already certified, placing the state among the few preparing manpower for the emerging drone economy.

To strengthen industry-institute linkages, over 170 Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with industrial partners, creating pipelines for placements, internships, and knowledge transfer. Apprenticeships under the NATS and NAPS schemes allow students to earn while gaining practical industrial experience.

Infrastructure modernisation has been undertaken on a large scale. Under the ADB-funded Himachal Pradesh Skill Development Project, machinery and equipment in 50 ITIs, one Polytechnic, and one Engineering College were upgraded at a cost of Rs 80.98 crore, benefiting nearly 5,880 students. Smart facilities, including video conferencing systems, computers, power-saving inverters, on-grid solar plants, and solar streetlights, have been installed across ITIs, creating digital-ready and energy-efficient learning environments.

He pointed out that these reforms represent a conscious redesign of the state’s technical education landscape—from institutions that merely impart training to institutions that generate skills, enable employment, nurture innovation, and drive economic growth.

With futuristic courses, strengthened infrastructure, robust industry integration, and strong placement outcomes, Himachal Pradesh is emerging as a model state in technical and vocational education, empowering its youth for the decade ahead, he added.