Establishment of Skills University Uncertain Due to HRD Ministry’s Resistance

The establishment of skill universities has become uncertain as Ministry of Human Resources and Development resisted the plan. Earlier, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Skills Minister announced that skill universities would come up to equip the students with vocational skills. However, the proposal has been shelved for now.

Giving an explanation in Rajya Sabha on March 16, 2017, Mr. Rudy expressed that the proposal for the establishment of skill universities gained positive response from various ministers. However, the proposal faced opposition from the HRD Ministry. He further explained that it is not possible to go ahead with the proposal without clearance from higher authorities.

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Mr. Rudy indicated that a working group had been set up by Ministry of Skills and Development in March 2015. The main objective of the working group was to prepare a road map for implementing the proposal. In April 2015, the group presented a draft bill and report to set up skill universities. Later, several ministers hailed the proposal while Department of Higher Education and HRD Ministry had different views on the proposal and resisted it.

Mr. Rudy clarified that the Ministry of Skills and Development has been examining the comments they have received regarding the proposal. Apart from HRD Ministry and Department of Higher Education, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) also resisted the proposal. However, the DIPP did not disclose the reasons for not supporting the proposal.

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One of the officials of HRD Ministry revealed that the ministry had questioned the plan of the varsity. The ministry had raised the question as to why there should be separate skill universities. He further added that the University Grants Commission has already directed all the universities and colleges to introduce courses in vocational skills in Bachelor’s degree.