India has a large population living in foreign countries. There are Indians everywhere almost in every field like healthcare, construction, IT, agriculture, and financial services. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), there will be a huge demand for 97 million new jobs worldwide by 2025.

With the world’s highest number of youths in India, our country has a young workforce that can become a global talent. To help our youths have all the required skills, the Indian government is focusing on building a skilled workforce that can meet international standards.

Below are a few programmes launched by the Modi-led BJP government to help skilled workers find jobs abroad in international destinations.

The Indian government has established Skill India International Centres (SIICs) to enhance the global employability of Indian workers. These centres provide training aligned with international industry standards, focusing on sectors with high overseas demand. Currently, two SIICs are operational in Varanasi and Bhubaneswar, with five more in development. The centres offer specialized courses, international certifications, and pre-departure orientation training to prepare workers for overseas employment. This initiative is part of the government's broader vision to position India as a global skill capital, addressing the projected demand for 3.58 million skilled workers across 16 countries over the next five years.

Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT)

The Ministry of External Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has implemented the Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) program. This free 8-hour course, launched in 2018, is designed to prepare migrant workers for life abroad. It covers essential topics such as local culture, laws, and welfare systems of destination countries. The program aims to facilitate smoother transitions for Indian workers into foreign work environments and reduce potential cultural shocks. PDOT centres have been established in various cities, including Chennai, Gorakhpur, and Chandigarh, with operations commencing in November 2019.

e-Migrate Platform

The e-Migrate platform, operated by the Ministry of External Affairs, serves as a comprehensive digital system for managing Indian worker emigration. This platform streamlines the entire process, from registration to recruitment management and authorization for foreign companies. It connects job seekers, recruiters, and employers, with over 2,100 recruiting agents and more than 280,000 employers registered. The platform also includes a grievance redressal system, allowing workers to report employment-related issues while abroad. The recent upgrade to e-Migrate V2.0 has enhanced user accessibility and functionality, promoting secure and legal migration opportunities.

International Partnerships and Agreements

The Indian government has been proactive in establishing international partnerships to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers. The National Skill Development Corporation International (NSDCI) has signed 23 business-to-business memorandums of understanding with 11 countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, and Japan. These agreements aim to facilitate training, assessment, and recruitment services. Additionally, the government is working to include skilling agendas in various bilateral migration and mobility agreements. These efforts focus on the mobility of young professionals, apprenticeships, students, and their family members, creating a more comprehensive framework for international workforce mobility.

Future-Oriented Skill Development Initiatives

To meet the evolving global demand for skilled workers, the Indian government is implementing forward-looking initiatives. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to bridge the education-skilling gap by integrating vocational education from Grade 6 onwards, with a target of 50% of secondary and tertiary education students accessing vocational training by 2025. The government is also focusing on developing short-term skill training programs tailored for specific countries and utilizing data analytics for real-time skill forecasting. These efforts are complemented by innovative financing modules such as skill impact bonds and skill loans to support candidates in financing their skills training for overseas markets.