Autonomous agency set up to coordinate skill development efforts

The Cabinet had approved setting up the agency in May this year. It will function as an autonomous body chaired by a person of the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister and supported by a Director General and other support staff.

The NSDA will work to bridge the social and economic divide by helping impart skills to disadvantaged and marginalised groups like Scheduled Castes SCs,Scheduled Tribes STs,Other Backward Castes OBCs and minorities,the release said.

Additionally,at the Central Level,it will also develop and monitor an overarching framework for skill development,and anchor the National Skills Qualifications Framework NSQF.

However,the Central ministries and the NSDC will continue to implement schemes in their remit.

At present,skill development is a responsibility undertaken by different ministries such as labour and employment and education and human resource development. Meanwhile,the NSDC is a not for profit organisation set up by the finance ministry.