Lok Sabha Question No. 2699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Petrochemical Investment Region
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2699

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## PETROCHEMICAL INVESTMENT REGION

## 2699. DR. D. PURANDESWARI:

Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  skill  development  programmes  conducted  for  the  youth  of Andhra  Pradesh  to  meet  the  demand  of  the  upcoming  Petroleum,  Chemicals  and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in Kakinada/Visakhapatnam;
- (b) the status of the collaboration with the CIPET (Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology) centres in the State;
- (c) the  measures taken/being taken by the Government to set up specialized skill hubs for the oil and gas sector in the Godavari basin;
- (d) the details of the placement rate of the candidates trained in these specialized courses; and
- (e) whether the Government's has any plan to upskill the local workforce to ensure their employment in the major industrial projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  to  (d): Under the Government of India's Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  delivers  skill,  re-skill  and  up-skill training  through  an  extensive  network  of  skill  development  centres  under  various schemes,  viz.  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society across the country including Andhra Pradesh. The SIM aims to enable

youth of India to get future ready, with industry relevant skills. Some of these initiatives in the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical sector include the following:

1.  Under  the Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY) ,  skill  development programmes  are  being  implemented  in  Andhra  Pradesh  in  sectors  linked  to  the petrochemical and Oil & Gas ecosystem, by ensuring workforce skilling through NSQFaligned Qualification Packs. Some  of  the trainings being conducted under the Hydrocarbon  Sector  Skill  Council  include  trainings  for  Fire  Safety  Technician  (Oil  & Gas),  Industrial  Electrician,  Industrial  Welder,  Pipe  Fitter,  LPG  Delivery  Personnel, Retail  Outlet  Attendant  and  Tank  Lorry  Driver  and  others.  These  programmes  are aligned  with  the  manpower  requirements  of  the  petrochemical,  Oil  &  Gas  and  allied industries in the upcoming Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) region of Kakinada and Visakhapatnam. The scheme has adopted a delinking approach  under  PMKVY  4.0,  enabling  demand-driven,  district-level  planning  through State Skill Development Missions.

2.  The Central  Institute  of  Petrochemicals  Engineering  &  Technology (CIPET) -Vijayawada, is conducting academic and skill development training programmes aligned with the requirements of petrochemical, plastics processing, downstream polymer and allied industries in the State in collaboration with State Government agencies such as Andhra  Pradesh  State  Skill  Development  Corporation  (APSSDC),  Andhra  Pradesh Schedule  Castes  Cooperatives  Finance  Corporation  Limited  (APSCCFC),  National Thermal  Power  Corporation  (NTPC),  Simhadri  and  Gas  Authority  of  India  Limited (GAIL), Rajahmundry.

3. The  Ministry of  Petroleum  and  Natural Gas,  through Hindustan  Petroleum Corporation  Ltd. (HPCL),  has  established  the  Skill  Development  Institute  (SDI), Visakhapatnam, which has been continuously doing vocational and skill development programmes under Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council (HSSC), which inter alia includes training in hydrocarbons including petrochemicals.

(e):  In  order  to  meet  skilling/upskilling  requirement  of  the  local  workforce  in  major industrial  projects,  to  improve  the  quality  of  skilling,  align  the  training  programs  to market  needs  and  improve  the  employability  of  trainees,  some  of  the  specific  steps taken by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) include:

i. The  training  programs  offered  under  the  schemes  of  MSDE  are  developed  in collaboration with industries, keeping in view market demands.

ii. Future ready job-roles addressing the requirement of Industry 4.0, emerging sectors like Drone, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Mechatronics, etc., have been prioritized under  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY)  4.0.   Also,  Under  Craftsmen Training  Scheme  (CTS)  in  ITIs,  new  age  courses  have  been  developed  to  meet  the demand of futuristic job roles in emerging technologies.

iii. The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has been set up as an overarching regulator establishing regulations and standards to ensure quality in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space.  The Awarding Bodies  recognized  by  NCVET  are  required  to  develop  the  qualifications  as  per  the industry demand and obtain industry validations.

iv.  Directorate  General of  Training (DGT)  is strengthening industry-linked training for ITI  students  through  the  Flexi  MoU  Scheme  and  Dual  System  of  Training,  and  by partnering with leading tech companies like IBM, CISCO,Bajaj Auto Limited, Future Skill Rights  Network,  AWS,  and  Microsoft  under  CSR  initiatives  to  enhance  industry exposure and relevant skill development.

v.  Courses  aligned  to  National  Skills  Qualification  Framework  (NSQF)  also  have components of On Job Training (OJT) and employability skills.

vi.  Under  NAPS,  apprenticeship  training  and  increasing  engagement  with  industrial establishments for undertaking apprenticeship programs is promoted.

vii. Trainings of Trainers through National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Institutes of Training of Trainers (IToTs).

viii.  Skill  India  Digital  Hub  (SIDH)  Portal  has  been  established  as  a  Digital  Public Infrastructure for skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

ix.  Pradhan  Mantri  Skilling  and  Employability  through  Upgraded  ITIs(PM  SETU) scheme focus on upgradation of 1,000 ITIs through a Hub (200) -Spoke (800) model.

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