The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), the apex regulator for skilling and vocational education under the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has decided to establish a dedicated research division to bolster evidence-based regulation and policy in India’s vocational education ecosystem.

The decision was approved by the NCVET general body during its first meeting held on Monday at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. The general body, chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary, emphasized that the new division will act as a think tank to guide research, policy planning, and regulatory reforms in skilling and vocational education.

Objectives of the Research Division

The NCVET research division will primarily aim to:

• Conduct in-depth research on labour market trends, qualification relevance, system performance, and policy innovation
• Support evidence-based decision-making in vocational education and training
• Enhance regulatory effectiveness, accreditation norms, and future skills planning
• Institutionalize monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment mechanisms to continuously inform policy design

Officials noted that research in vocational education has historically been fragmented and project-specific, spread across multiple institutions with limited coordination. The new division is expected to consolidate and institutionalize this research, ensuring data-driven decision-making for skilling policies.

Structure and Functioning

The detailed structure of the division will be finalized in accordance with government norms and after reviewing comparable research units in other government bodies. Key features include:

• Research Advisory Committee (RAC): A committee composed of sectoral experts, academics, and representatives from government organizations and industries. The RAC will provide strategic guidance, ensuring the research division addresses the most pressing policy and labour market issues.
• Knowledge Exchange Networks: The division will facilitate collaboration with national and international research institutions, promoting cross-learning and benchmarking best practices.
• Primary and Secondary Data Integration: While secondary sources like labour force surveys and sectoral reports will be used, the division is expected to prioritize robust primary data collection, including nationwide skill-demand surveys to better align training programs with evolving market needs.

Significance for India’s Skilling Ecosystem

Experts highlight that positioning NCVET as a think tank can substantially strengthen regulatory decision-making. By generating empirical evidence, the division can influence:

• Qualification design for vocational courses
• Assessment standards and accreditation norms
• Alignment of training programs with industry demand

Dr. Harshil Sharma, a labour economist from Jawaharlal Nehru University who has worked with several state governments on skill development programs, said the initiative could bridge the gap between policy, regulation, and ground realities. He emphasized that the division should not rely solely on fragmented secondary data but should actively generate primary, field-level data to inform NCVET’s regulatory and planning functions.

Long-Term Implications

The creation of a dedicated research division is expected to:

• Enable evidence-driven policymaking for India’s rapidly evolving skilling landscape
• Strengthen NCVET’s role as an apex authority in skill regulation, accreditation, and quality assurance
• Provide actionable insights to anticipate future skill needs across sectors, supporting India’s goal of a knowledge-driven, industry-ready workforce
• Facilitate strategic interventions, linking vocational education policies with national priorities such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat and sectoral skill development initiatives

By integrating research, regulation, and policy planning, NCVET aims to professionalize and standardize vocational education governance, ensuring that skilling programs meet both labour market requirements and learner aspirations.

In summary, the NCVET research division represents a transformative step in India’s skilling ecosystem, positioning the council as a data-driven, policy-oriented think tank that bridges research, regulation, and industry needs to build a more responsive and forward-looking vocational education system.