Given the diversity and magnanimity of the country, skill development of the humongous workforce can only be achieved through comprehensive and active collaboration between the government, industry, academia and independent organisations.

• Vocational Skills Training Programmes for Unemployed Youth: As per an assessment conducted by the National Sample Survey Office, India’s unemployment rate was at a forty-five year high of 6.1% in the year 2018. One of the major reasons for unemployment is the unemployability of India’s workforce, and this can be addressed through skill development or enhancement training to the unemployed youths. India Inc. can play an important role in bridging the gap, it can implement various skill development programmes as part of their CSR. These programmes can be conducted as part of existing government schemes, or can be formulated as stand-alone programmes that aim at upskilling the youth and making them employment ready.
• Entrepreneurship Training Programmes for Rural Women: Rural women’s entrepreneurship can contribute to economic growth in developing countries and clearly represents an untapped potential. In this regard, corporations can work to create women entrepreneurs through skill-based training programs. Its aim is to create rural women entrepreneurs, build sustainable opportunities for livelihood for these women and mainstream them to become an important part of the country’s economic growth.
• Vocational & Skill-Based Training For Unorganised Sector: In its effort to strengthen the skill delivery systems, major focus is always on the formal sector, however, India cannot ignore the contribution of the unorganised or informal sector in the economic growth of the country. Various skill development programmes can be designed in congruence with, or under the purview of existing government schemes to promote skilling, reskilling and upskilling to the workers of the unorganised sectors. These programmes can  be designed to provide vocational and skill-based training to painters, applicators, carpenters and workers etc, to enhance their employability and improve their livelihoods.
• Recognition of Prior Learning Programmes: Recognition of Prior Learning programmes is a component of PMKVY Scheme in which individuals with prior learning experience or skills are assessed and certified. Corporations can undertake such programmes in the sectors of their practice and align the core competencies of the employees with the market needs. As part of the RPL programmes, employees can be up-skilled and trained for the market required skill sets and improve their livelihood opportunities.
• Modern Farming Practises Training for Farmers: The contribution of agriculture to India’s economy cannot be undermined. Farm yields are mostly dependent on the weather and environmental conditions, which can never be predicted. Corporations can take up CSR projects that aim at imparting knowledge about sustainable farming practises, and modern farming practises to the farmers. This can better equip farmers to withstand the unpredictable effects of climate and work towards producing better yield.

India must enhance and improve the skill set of its much celebrated demographic dividend, and corporations and civil society organisations can play an absolutely crucial role in achieving it. Skill development is the only way to bridge the gap and remove the disconnect between the demand and supply of skilled manpower, building a vocational and technical training framework, building new skills and innovative thinking, not only for existing jobs but also jobs that are to be created.