Suitability of Skill Development & Vocational Courses in Motivating Students' Minds for Career Building

Through the National Education Policy 2020, steps and policies are being made in such a way that India can also contribute to providing inclusivity and equity in education under agenda 30. The most intriguing and sagacious decision that has been taken under this is to train the students for the future from their school and college life. Transforming them from apprentices to specialists who can use their skills and vocational training in earning their livelihood and contribute directly and indirectly towards adding income to the national economy. Several initiatives such as Skill India Digital Hub, Skill India Programme, various skill-based courses at the institutional level, Bachelor of Vocation Programme, Academic Bank of Credit etc. have been launched to enable the youth of India to become self-reliant and skilled through flexible rules and regulations and the freedom to pursue education at their own pace and viability. In the Union Budget 2025-26, priority has been given to education sector where it has received 2.54 per cent (Rs 1.28 lakh crore) of the total amount, of this Rs 50078 crore has been allocated for higher education. About Rs 68800 crore on skills and Rs 160 crore under PM-Usha scheme, Rs 20000 crore in research development, Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (launched in the Union Budget with a budget of Rs 10831 crore in 2025-26), Grameen Samriddhi Programme, Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) scheme, etc. have been implemented to raise the standards in higher education and link it to practical life. But the efforts that have been made to build skilled workforce and to ignite the sense of creativity form their study period are really working in that direction? This paper is trying to examine the ground reality of these skills and vocational courses that are being taught at the UG level and what are the barriers at institution level in implementing these courses. For this, a structured questionnaire has been prepared to record the responses of the students selected from the 5 colleges affiliated to CCS University, Meerut and a separate questionnaire have also been prepared to record the answers of the faculty.