The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provided details on initiatives to promote skill development in India's maritime sector under the Skill India Mission. Through various schemes including Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), the ministry delivers skill, re-skill, and up-skill training across the country.
Under PMKVY, training is provided in logistics and maritime-related job roles including Documentation Assistant, Consignment Booking Assistant, Consignment Tracking Executive, Courier Delivery Executive, Signalman Port Operation, Vessel Operator Grade-1, Marine Capture Fisherman, and Protective & Marine Painter. Specifically in Kasaragod district of Kerala, 240 candidates have been trained/oriented under PMKVY, with 197 candidates certified.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has approved 171 Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) in India, with employment of seafarers on Indian or foreign ships dependent on training, assessment, and certification according to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW Convention) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The DGS has issued approved maritime training courses aligned with IMO Model Courses and the STCW Convention 2010, along with a Training, Examination and Assessment Programme (TEAP) manual providing guidelines and course details. A common Vertical Integration Course for Trainers is available for MTI faculties.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has initiated additional measures including strengthening maritime education and training, upgrading curriculum, and enhancing industry-oriented skill programs. Specific initiatives include 11 shipyards signing MoUs with 34 ITIs across 8 coastal states for implementation of 150-hour On Job Training (OJT), Training of Trainers (ToT) program implementation at 2 ITIs in West Bengal by Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS), completion of a preliminary Skill Gap Study across 9 shipyards, establishment of Indian Ship Technology Centre (ISTC) as a Section 8 company to facilitate skilling, and a signed Plan of Implementation (PoI) between MoPSW and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for a shipbuilding sector skill development project.
The government has implemented multiple measures to improve employment opportunities for coastal youth, including providing industry-aligned skilling through PMKVY and other initiatives, offering training in logistics, port operations, warehousing, supply chain management and marine-related job roles, aligning courses with National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) based Qualification Packs developed with industry consultation, promoting Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for workers with existing skills, and encouraging employment linkages through industry partnerships and placement facilitation. These efforts aim to enhance employability of coastal youth and support manpower requirements in maritime, logistics, and allied sectors.