The Skill India Mission gained momentum today with a strategic partnership and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 
between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), to scale up skill development initiatives in the Hydrocarbon and allied sectors among other areas of cooperation.
MoPNG is the nodal Ministry responsible for coordination and planning of the growth and development of Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry in the country, and responsible for formulation of policies with respect all activities related to Petroleum and Natural Gas and its allied sectors.
MSDE is the nodal Ministry for providing the appropriate skill development framework for supply of skilled manpower through vocational and technical training, skill up-gradation, building of new skills, mapping of existing skills and their certification. MSDE also acts as the facilitator for skill development programmes across the country.
MoPNG has now formally joined hands with MSDE to:
· Develop comprehensive skill development plans for existing and potential workforce in alignment with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
· Certify existing workforce in the hydrocarbon sector for Recognition of Prior Learning under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
· Promote and scale-up apprenticeship training under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
· Facilitate the setting-up of Skill Development Institutes/Centres of Excellence for vocational training to meet sectoral needs
MoPNG has setup the Hydrocarbons Sector Skill Council (HSSC) with representatives from the Government, PSUs and private sector to address the skill development needs across the value chain of the sector.
The MoU signing ceremony took place in the presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. The MoU was signed by Shri Rohit Nandan, Secretary, MSDE and Shri K. D. Tripathi, Secretary, MoPNG.
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said, “As we gear up for new avenues that Petroleum and Natural Gas sector will open up for the country, there is tremendous focus on sourcing skilled workforce to make all our plans successful. Our partnership with MSDE through this MoU signing will help us develop the ready workforce for Exploration & Production, Pipeline & Transportation, Refinery & Marketing and Service providers going forward. In this way, we are investing back into our sector’s and the country’s brighter future.
Welcoming this contribution from the hydrocarbon sector, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said, “The hydrocarbon sector has tremendous potential for employment generation, and hence it is vital to develop a skilled workforce to meet both today’s and tomorrow’s needs. The setting up of the Hydrocarbons SSC is the first step in that direction. With today’s partnership, both Ministries commit to develop globally benchmarked workforce for the sector so that lakhs of youth can aspire for better economic opportunities through skill development programs.”
Under the MoU, MoPNG will continue to support the growth of the Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council and align with the NSQF for skill development programs. Additionally, MoPNG will encourage Oil & Gas Companies and related contractors to hire skilled personnel, incentivize skill training & certification, promote apprenticeship programs, undertake Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programs in the sector and setup institutes focused on various sub-sectors and allied trades. MoPNG will catalyse these initiatives in the Hydrocarbon sector, through its various agencies and PSUs, and develop a plan in close alignment with the Skill India mission.
MSDE would primarily discharge its responsibilities through Directorate General of Training (DGT) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). DGT looks after the whole ecosystem of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Advanced Training Institutes (ATIs), Regional Vocational Training Institutes (RVTIs) and Apprenticeship, under an overarching framework of National Council of Vocational Training, which looks after the curriculum, assessment and certifications, for trainees, trainers and assessors. NSDC on the other hand catalyses creation of large, quality, vocational institutions, and enables support systems such as quality assurance, information systems and train the trainer academies either directly or through partnerships. NSDC has been mandated by Government of India to promote Sector Skill Councils in high growth and priority sectors, to formulate the National Occupational Standards for different job roles, set up certification standards and norms, conduct labour market studies, etc.
